Keep the season merry: Find tips to ensure safety during the holidays
Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, and enjoying precious moments with family are a few of the activities we look forward to over the holidays. It’s a time to celebrate, but the season has an increased number of safety risks. Fortunately, following some basic tips and using a modern security system at your Birmingham residence can help ensure safety during the holidays.
Leaving town? Deter intrusions at your Birmingham home with the latest video cameras and automation
Traveling to visit relatives is a holiday custom, but leaving your Birmingham house unoccupied increases the risk of intrusions. But there is a solution. Modern home security systems allow you to watch over your home regardless of your whereabouts with advanced surveillance. You can access real-time feeds from your cameras through the smart home app on your cell phone.
Leading surveillance systems can actively defend your home from thieves. If an individual comes too close, cameras will shine a light or emit a sound to scare them away. Here are serveral other ways you can prevent invasions when you’re traveling:
- Schedule lights to turn on at various moments to make your home look occupied
- Make sure your home security signage is noticeable
- Go to your home security app to ensure doors are locked and your alarm is set
- Avoid announcing on social platforms that you’re traveling
Protect against seasonal porch pirates in Birmingham
For numerous families, the holidays bring a consistent stream of packages to your door. Don’t tempt opportunistic criminals by leaving them on your porch. Instead, obtain an instant update to your phone whenever a delivery appears so you can collect it.
If possible, plan deliveries for when you’ll be present. When that’s not possible, ask a neighbor to bring them in. You can open your door and deactivate your alarm from your mobile device. If somebody is knocking on your door, you can communicate with them through your video doorbell’s 2-way talk function.
Practice established fire safety during the holidays in your Birmingham home
Christmas trees, candles, ornamental lights, and home-cooked meals are popular during the holidays, but they also heighten your risk of fires. Here are some tips on how to avoid them:
- Kitchen blazes increase during the holiday season, notably at Thanksgiving. Maintain a close watch of an active stovetop. Keep children away to avoid burns. Remember to follow manufacturer guidelines when using fryers.
- Keep Christmas trees hydrated and away from fireplaces and candles. Remember that trees get more fire-prone as they dry.
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets with extension cords and lights. Loose connections and faulty outlets are at risk of sparking and may lead to fires.
- Lit candles are beautiful but also dangerous around trees and decorations. Position them carefully and always put out flames when exiting a space.
Monitored fire alarms are a fantastic way to enhance your protection. When sensors like fire alarms and CO detectors integrate with your home security, you and your 24-7 monitoring specialists will be notified when an alarm goes off, whether you’re on site or away.
Stay safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in Birmingham
Get all the equipment you need to keep your family safe during the holidays and all year round from Vivint. Our Birmingham smart security systems include advanced features like video cameras with active deterrence, custom automation, and monitored fire alarms. Contact us at (205) 973-4125 and give your family the gift of improved protection this season.