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Personal security and safety for you and your family begins at home.  Everything starts with ensuring the entire family is aware of the rules for safety and security of your home.  Everyone needs to know how to protect themselves and how to alert help if someone invades the perimeter of your home.

The first step is to make sure you have quality deadbolts on all exterior doors and quality locks on all windows.  Then make sure you use them.  Many homeowners leave doors and windows unlocked during the day while they are home.  This is not a good idea as front doors are usually the first area a burglar will check to see if it is locked.

Many women have had their purses stolen by a burglar who just opened the door, grabbed the purse sitting there, and was gone before anyone knew it.  Luckily most of the newer alarm systems have a chime beep or voice alert when a door or window is opened that will alert the homeowner.

If you have young children who must come home from school and stay by themselves for a few hours, here are some skills they should learn:

• Keep all doors shut and locked for everyone.  Make sure they know never to open the door to strangers.
• If the telephone rings, let it ring.  Let the answering machine pick it up.  Check caller ID, but let it ring unless it is mom or dad.
• If in doubt or scared, call a parent at work, a neighbor, or someone on the emergency phone list.
• If there is an alarm system, make sure your child knows how to use the instant panic button and knows the duress holdup code for immediate help.
• Avoid the use of stove, sharp utensils and knives, and other kitchen appliances without instruction from parent ahead of time.

If you are home during the day, you should know that statistics show most break ins occur during the day.  Be aware of what is going on around your neighborhood.  Notice any suspicious vehicles that look like they don’t belong – maybe with multiple occupants driving a little too slowly.  It could mean they are checking out various homes to see who may be gone.  Keep an eye out as it might be something worth notifying the local police to investigate.
 
Don’t open your door during the day to someone knocking unless you either know the person or are expecting someone like a company representative.  Even then ask for identification.  Many burglary scams are male/female teams.  One looks unsuspecting (female) and gets the homeowner to open the door so she can use the telephone phone while her teammate makes his entry into your home.

To be safe just don’t open the door to anyone you do not know! If someone persists on knocking and you notice them going around to the side or back of your home, be sure to alert the police right away to this suspicious activity.

If you don’t have an alarm system, invest in one.  Alarm systems are no longer a luxury like they used to be.  They are now considered a standard - as much a part of a family’s lifestyle as a built-in microwave or dishwasher.  In fact, most new construction homes have alarm systems installed during the building stage.  They can be a life-saving personal safety device and one of the best preventative measures in making sure your home is secure against any type of intrusion by a burglar. 

To provide personal security while at home most alarm keypads have a panic button that sets off an immediate loud alarm and a duress holdup code that can send a silent call  to the alarm center to instantly send help.  Make sure everyone in the household knows how to use these features if the need should arise.

Another personal security device that can be part of your alarm system is a wireless remote panic button.  There are a couple of types you could use:

• Portable Keyfob – looks similar to a car keyfob so be careful.  Most people carry it on their key chain and it has a panic button, plus alarm off and on buttons. When my daughter lived in an apartment after college, we got her an alarm system as well as the keyfob.  It always made me feel better knowing she had an alert function to immediately get the police there if needed.  This was especially important as she was coming into her apartment alone at night. 
• Portable Remote Panic w/On/Off Buttons – This can be carried around the house with you and outside up to 50-100 feet or so from the house.  This is a great device to leave next to the nightstand when you go to bed.

Don’t forget about pepper spray (use a minimum of 10% oleo capsicum) or mace to use as your personal protection device.  This is a non-lethal weapon you could carry with you when you are away from home. 

Remember, have family discussions to ensure all members of your family are thoroughly familiar with your rules and the home safety plan.  Mentally review as often as possible the actions you must perform if confronted with an emergency.  The plan should become second nature to each of you.

Be informed..be prepared and remember personal security starts at home! 

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