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Have you ever left the room, even for a minute, with a candle burning? Have you ever removed a battery in a beeping smoke detector? Ever left the house with your dryer running? Probably, and you might think it’s not a big deal but home safety experts disagree.

Are You Making These 5 Home Safety Mistakes?

Have you ever left the room, even for a minute, with a candle burning? Have you ever removed a battery in a beeping smoke detector? Ever left the house with your dryer running? Probably, and you might think it’s not a big deal but home safety experts disagree.

Here are some of the most important Dos and Don’ts that will help keep you and your family safe.

  • Don’t leave windows wide open.

Burglars are opportunists – don’t make it easy for them. Your window contacts won’t work if the system has already bypassed the window that’s open.

In addition, falls from windows send over 3000 children to the hospital each year according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Children can fall out of a window open just over four inches and a screen doesn’t help.

Do make sure that your windows are protected by your home security system and that if you’re home you’re arming to Stay. Install window guards on all windows and use quick release mechanisms on windows you might use as a fire exit.

  • Never leave candles burning unattended.

On average, 24 home candle fires are reported per day. Fires started by candles cause 100 deaths and 900 injuries per year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These fires can start and spread quickly, so don’t ever leave a candle in an empty room.

Do burn candles where you can easily see if fire spreads and keep them at least a foot away from bedding, drapes, furniture or anything else that can burn. Even better, use flameless candles. They are just as pretty and much less dangerous.

  • Don’t ignore low battery warnings from your home security system or smoke detectors.

The beeping that warns you about a low battery in your home security or smoke detectors is annoying, but never remove the battery to try and make it stop. Working smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a house fire in half says Debra Holtzman, a national child safety and health expert and author of “The Safe Baby: a Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living.”

Do make sure monitored smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside the sleeping area and on each level of the home. Schedule a system review with our team to make sure you are covered.

Test your smoke alarms frequently. Make sure you call us first to put your system on test. Read troubleshooting details about your home security system here or call us, our team is here to help 24/7.

  • Don’t throw knives in the sink.

Over 1000 people a day get cut badly enough by a knife to go to the Emergency Room, says a study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine. A frequent mistake is throwing knives into a sink of soapy water.

Do place knives on the counter until they are ready to be washed, far enough away from the edge so that a child cannot reach them.

  • Don’t forget to prepare for emergencies.

Many people don’t have an emergency plan or kit. You never know when an emergency will strike, so preparation is essential. Read what Ready.gov suggests for your family’s emergency kit.

About Alarm Engineering

Locally owned Alarm Engineering has been securing Delmarva since 1985. In that time, we have earned our reputation for integrity, reliability, and quality with our emphasis on superior service to our customers. We know you have choices when it comes to your security system, so here are some things you should know about our team.

Alarm Engineering is leading provider of electronic security systems and services in Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia. From integrated home security systems with home automation and video to large enterprise-level integrated systems and small business solutions, our highly trained and professional staff will get the job done right. As an Authorized Alarm.com dealer, we offer exclusive Crash and Smash technology, Geo-Fencing and LiftMaster Garage Control, and the Doorbell Camera as part of our Home Automation offerings.

For more about what sets us apart from the crowd, click here or give us a call at 410-546-2210. But don’t just take our word for it: check out our five star Google Reviews.

 

 If you purchased your smoke detector from the hardware store or your electrician, you likely have an ionization detector, while we recommend and install photoelectric smoke detectors.

Not all Smoke Detectors are Created Equal

In 2022 a fire broke out in a rowhouse in Philadelphia, killing at least 13 people. The deputy fire commissioner stated during a news conference that there were four smoke alarms but none of them worked during the fire.

Most people think of smoke alarms as those annoying devices that go off when you’re pan-searing those delicious steaks. But inside their plastic casing, there are fascinating technologies, making use of light sources and radioactive molecules, to alert us to the presence of smoke. Since their invention in the 1960s, smoke alarms have become integral parts of our homes, often mandated by law. There are two main types of residential smoke alarms, an important fact that is often not mentioned.

If you purchased your smoke detector from the hardware store or your electrician, you likely have an ionization detector, while we recommend and install photoelectric smoke detectors.

You may not know that most house fires are of the smoldering (rather than flaming) type, due to the abundance of flame retardant materials used in furniture upholstery and construction. Photoelectric smoke detectors detect smoldering fires better and faster.

Read about the specific differences for yourself here.

Monitored photoelectric smoke detectors are designed to protect your family and home 24/7, whether your alarm system is armed or not. Learn more about professional monitoring from Alarm Engineering here.

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Tell us a little about you and we will provide a no-charge, no obligation onsite security and fire safety survey. Enter the FIRSTMONTHFREE promo code for extra savings.

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About Alarm Engineering

Locally owned Alarm Engineering has been securing Delmarva since 1985. In that time, we have earned our reputation for integrity, reliability, and quality with our emphasis on superior service to our customers. We know you have choices when it comes to your security system, so here are some things you should know about our team.

Alarm Engineering is leading provider of electronic security systems and services in Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia. From integrated home security systems with home automation and video to large enterprise-level integrated systems and small business solutions, our highly trained and professional staff will get the job done right. As an Authorized Alarm.com dealer, we offer exclusive Crash and Smash technology, Geo-Fencing and LiftMaster Garage Control, and the Doorbell Camera as part of our Home Automation offerings.

For more about what sets us apart from the crowd, click here or give us a call at 410-546-2210. But don’t just take our word for it: check out our five star Google Reviews.

According to a new report released by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking remains top cause of home structure fires.  "U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 357,000 home structure fires annually between 2009 and 2013. These fires caused an estimated average of 2,470 civilian deaths and $6.9 billion in direct property damage yearly." Follow these important cooking-related safety tips from the NFPA and stay safe:

Cooking Safety Tips

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), cooking remains the top cause of home structure fires.

The Statistics

U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 346,802 home structure fires annually in a recent 4 year span, even though the majority of cooking fires are not reported to fire departments.

These house fires caused an estimated average of 2,620 civilian deaths and $7.3 billion in direct property damage each year. Both of these numbers are an increase from the previous period. 

A shocking 75% of (civilian) fire deaths and 72% of injuries come from house fires, according to the NFPA.

Cooking Safety Tips

  1. If you are sleepy, have consumed alcohol or have taken medicine that may make you drowsy, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
  2. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
  3. If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer as a reminder that you are cooking.
  4. Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains – away from your stovetop.
  5. When cooking, wear short, close-fitting clothing or tightly rolled sleeves.
  6. If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Do not open the door until the fire is completely out and have the microwave serviced before using it again.
  7. If a fire starts in your oven, turn off the oven and leave the door closed. The oven should be checked/serviced before used again.
  8. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. do not move the pan. Keep lid on until the pan is completely cool.
  9. Never use a grill on a balcony.
  10. Never add charcoal starter fluid on coals or kindling you’ve already ignited.

Check out the full list of the NFPA’s Cooking Safety best practices.

Get Started and Save

If you don’t have Alarm.com integrated into your security system yet, just let us know. See how much you could save using your Customer Loyalty Rewards.

If you’re with another alarm company today or want to learn more about Alarm Engineering, tell us a bit about you and we’ll provide a no-charge security assessment. Remember to use FIRSTMONTHFREE promo code for extra savings.

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Alarm Engineering

Locally owned Alarm Engineering has been securing Delmarva since 1985. In that time, we have earned our reputation for integrity, reliability, and quality with our emphasis on superior service to our customers. We know you have choices when it comes to your security system, so here are some things you should know about our team.

Alarm Engineering is leading provider of electronic security systems and services in Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia. From integrated home security systems with home automation and video to large enterprise-level integrated systems and small business solutions, our highly trained and professional staff will get the job done right. As an Authorized Alarm.com dealer, we offer exclusive Crash and Smash technology, Geo-Fencing and LiftMaster Garage Control, and the Doorbell Camera as part of our Home Automation offerings.

For more about what sets us apart from the crowd, click here or give us a call at 410-546-2210. But don’t just take our word for it: check out our five star Google Reviews.


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