Assuring the safety of someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is one of the most critical concerns for caregivers. As the condition progresses, individuals with dementia experience diminished abilities that causes memory loss, dulled or changed senses, poor judgment, and a loss of the senses of time and place. The symptoms are frustrating and disheartening to the sufferer, who has no control of the condition. Unfortunately, they can also cause the individual to put themselves in danger as they attempt to accomplish tasks they were once able to do with ease.
One of the first things that you’ll need to do when shopping around for the best security system for your needs is to determine how many security cameras are necessary to protect your home. When choosing a home surveillance system, there are a few key factors that you should consider before making a commitment. Here is a guide to choosing the right surveillance system for your home.
Determine How Many Security Cameras are Necessary
Ideally, anyplace in your home that may tempt a criminal should be monitored by your security camera system. Four security cameras are typically sufficient to monitor a medium-sized home. You might need more cameras depending upon the layout of the interior or exterior of your home.
A high-quality security camera system can deter criminals from targeting your home, and it can also provide you with valuable evidence in the event of a crime.
Choose the Best Camera for Your Needs
There are a variety of security cameras on the market, and each offers different features. Box cameras are affordable and highly visible, which can serve to deter criminal activity. Dome cameras come in different sizes, are less intrusive, and are easy to install. Pan/tilt/zoom cameras offer a 360-degree field of view and are remote controllable. They also allow you more options for installation and security monitoring services.
Opt for Security Monitoring Services
Security monitoring services allow you or your home monitoring company to access your security camera system remotely. If you’re at work or out of town, your home automation system will let you access your home alarm system and security camera system via a smartphone or tablet. You can quickly and easily monitor and download videos, and adjust settings.
About Brinton Security
Founded in 2001, Brinton Security Services has been dedicated to providing protection for both residential and commercial settings. Although specializing in home security, we also install/service/monitor fire, gate, camera, and personal emergency response systems as well as whole house audio, home theater, home automation, and phone systems. We are proud to serve Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Our aim is to “Protect What Matters!”
The feasting and festivities of the New Year have now died down. Resolutions have been made and forgotten just as quickly. Some valiant folks are braving on still trying to make sure they keep their promise to themselves. Either way, whether or not you made a resolution or not this year, it’s always a good time to think about improving the safety of your home.
These safety upgrades will not only make your home safer, but could also reduce your homeowner’s insurance premiums. Stay safe, save money!
Deciding On A New Smart Home System
Choosing which upgrades to do is easier when you set priorities based on your home’s risk, budget, and needs. Then, choose between the following upgrades for your home:
Home Automation Systems
Do you leave your home without locking the doors? Perhaps you travel a lot for work? Home automation systems do not just make life easier, they actually protect your home. You can set timers to turn lights on and off while you are away, making burglars think you are home. If you forget to lock a door, you can secure your home using a computer or mobile device, even if you are miles away.
Fire & Burglar Alarms
Protect the perimeter and interior of your home from intruders or devastating fires. A burglar and fire alarm system can be integrated as one for dual protection or you can select based on your need.
Smart HD Camera Systems
From standard surveillance to keeping an eye on children who come home from school, home video security systems give you extra peace of mind and allow you to virtually check in on your residence no matter where you are.
Smart Door Locks
This is probably the most economical upgrade you can make, and definitely a good one if you are not the original owner of the home. Also, if you have lost your keys, change your locks. If you do not have state-of-the-art deadbolts, you may want to consider upgrading the locks in your home.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors
Carbon monoxide is odorless and extremely deadly. While you may have smoke detectors in your home, these do not detect carbon monoxide. Invest in a few detectors and place them in bedrooms. Again, this relatively inexpensive investment could potentially save the lives of your loved ones.
About Brinton Security
Regardless of what security upgrades you choose to make, consult a home security expert first. Because every home is unique and your lifestyle determines the type of protection you need, an expert can properly assess and make suggestions that are tailored to you. Brinton Security offers free estimates and can help you identify which upgrades are most beneficial to your home. Contact us today for a free consultation!
The holidays are a time to enjoy family and take a relaxing break from work. They’re also a time to be vigilant about the increased chance of a household fire. Read through these fire safety tips and review them with your family so that everyone stays safe during the holiday season.
Be Aware of Candles
Candles are a hallmark of the winter holidays. As pretty as they are, however, candles are responsible for two out of every five home decoration fires. Never place a candle next to a flammable object such as holiday decorations, and always blow out lit candles when you are not in the room or when you go to bed.
Keep Decorations Away from Heat
Half of holiday decoration fires occur because the decorations are too close to a heat source. Shop for flame-resistant and flame-retardant decorations, and hang them far away from sources of heat such as the heating vent, fireplace, and lights.
Hang Lights Safely
To avoid a fire hazard, do not hang outdoor lights indoors, and vice versa. If you notice any loose bulb connections or a patch of cord that is worn or broken on your lights, replace them. Read the instructions provided with your lights to be sure that you aren’t stringing too many lights together. When hanging the lights, use clips rather than nails to avoid damaging the cords.
Test Smoke Alarms
You should test your smoke alarms several times throughout the holiday season by pressing the built-in test button. If the smoke alarm chirps, it means it is running on low batteries that need to be replaced immediately.
About Brinton Security
Sometimes, following all of the advised fire safety tips is not enough to protect you from a fire. We offer advanced fire alarms that detect both heat and smoke and that alert us to call the local fire department on your behalf as soon as a fire is detected.
Enjoying the season of giving is what the winter holidays are all about. However, because thieves know that homes during the holidays are filled with gifts, it should also be a time of vigilance. Take these precautions to ensure that your home is protected from a holiday break-in this winter.
Lock Up
Always close and lock the doors and windows of your home if you’re leaving, even if just for a short trip. The garage door is also a popular entrance point for thieves, so keep it closed even when you’re home. Don’t forget to lock the door to the garage in the event that thieves gain access to the garage. Be sure to never leave a spare key outside the house—thieves know where to find them.
Always Make it Look Like Someone is Home
Automate your lights in and around your home and put them on a schedule (using your mobile App) to come on at certain times, for example at sunset. This will serve as an excellent deterrent whether you are away from home for a brief period of time or out of town on vacation. If you leave town, have the mail and newspaper picked up by a neighbor or request to have it stopped. You may even want to hire a house sitter for extra protection.
Store Valuables in a Safe
Jewelry and other small objects of great value should be kept inside of a safe. If you don’t want to have a safe inside of the home, use your bank’s safety deposit box to keep items you don’t regularly need.
Invest in a Quality Home Security System
Nothing will deter a thief like a cutting-edge, professionally installed home security system. A high-quality system should include motion detection triggers, video surveillance, and central monitoring features.
The holidays are a busy time and most people are scrambling to do too much, too fast. Unfortunately, all of that busy work and rushing from store-to-store trying to finish up last minute shopping means many homeowners may be neglecting basic safety at home. Whether you are cooking holiday meals or just putting up your Christmas lights, it is important to keep fire safety in mind.
Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe
From candles being lit to baking your Christmas ham, the holidays involve the risk of fire in your home. Keep your home safe by taking the time to prepare and implement a few additional safety tips this holiday season:
- Kitchen Safety – If you are cooking (whether it is on the stove or in the oven), stay in the kitchen as much as possible. If for some reason you need to step away, return to the kitchen frequently to check on boiling pots, simmering sauces and anything baking in the oven.
- Candle Safety – Keep flaming candles away from children and never leave children alone in a room with a lit candle. LED candles are a good choice. They flicker and look just like real candles, but without the flame. Do not use candles near flammable materials, such as curtains or a Christmas tree.
- Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy – Every home should have a fire extinguisher. These are relatively inexpensive and can be stored in the laundry area or kitchen to stop any minor house fires from becoming devastating ones.
- Test Smoke Alarms – Smoke alarms should be tested just before the holidays and every month after that. Replace batteries in all of your carbon monoxide detectors as well.
- Be Safe with Christmas Lights – If you are setting up Christmas lights outside, keep plugs away from standing water, snow or any other type of moisture. Do not use extension cords that are frayed. Indoors, only use grounded outlets and keep your Christmas tree lights on a timer so that they do not remain on overnight.
About Brinton Security
To learn more about how you can protect your home from fires this holiday or to install a fire alarm with your home alarm system, contact your local home security specialists. Brinton Security offers free consultations and can help you install a system that protects your home during the busy holiday season and right through the year.
Give us a call today!
When you purchased those smoke detectors you so responsibly installed in your home, did you notice a similar-looking detector for carbon monoxide? If you have any products or equipment in or near your home that burn fuel, you might want to pick up a few carbon monoxide detectors too.
Unlike smoke or natural gas, carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, but it is just as poisonous. In the U.S., between 150 and 200 people die annually from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning produced by malfunctioning furnaces, ranges, water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces, charcoal- or gas-fired grills and engine-powered devices such as portable generators.
Even more lose their lives when CO accumulates after people leave their cars running in garages. And every year, thousands of people wind up in emergency rooms for treatment as a result of CO poisoning.
Prevention involves following these basic safety procedures.
- Install all appliances following the manufacturer’s instructions as well as local building codes – generally by qualified professionals.
- Unless you have the proper knowledge and skill as well as the appropriate tools, do not service fuel-burning appliances yourself.
- If your home has a fuel-burning heating system, have it serviced and inspected annually by professionals. Be sure to include chimneys and flues.
- Operating a portable generator or another gas-powered tool in or near an enclosed space can trap CO, leading to potentially lethal levels of the gas. Open doors and windows do not provide enough ventilation.
- Never use camping stoves designed for outdoor use only in an enclosed vehicle, tent or building. Some of these products may be designed to work in enclosed spaces, but they will specify that on the packaging and provide instructions for their safe use.
- Never burn charcoal in any kind of enclosed space such as a building, tent, or vehicle.
- Never leave a car running in a garage, even if you have the door open.
- Don’t use gas appliances such as ovens or clothes dryers as space heaters for your home.
- If you use a natural gas or propane oven, don’t cover the bottom with aluminum foil the way you can with an electric oven. You can block the oven’s combustion flow, producing CO.
- Re-check all gas appliance vents, heating vents or chimney flues after any home renovations. These can easily be blocked by forgotten tarps or debris.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms in hallways near every sleeping area and in living areas in the neighborhood of fuel-burning appliances. The recommendation is one alarm installed in the hallway outside every bedroom. Make sure the alarms aren’t blocked by furniture or window coverings. CO alarms should not be installed in kitchens or directly above any fuel-burning appliances. Test alarms regularly and replace following the schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
Signs and Symptoms of CO Poisoning
Initially, CO exposure has symptoms that resemble the flu without any fever. These include headaches, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Further exposure can lead to vomiting, mental confusion and loss of muscular coordination. The end result is loss of consciousness and finally, death. The exposure levels and duration can affect the severity of the symptoms.
If you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms unexpectedly, don’t wait for the CO alarm to go off to confirm it. Leave your home immediately and call the fire department on your cell or at a neighbor’s home. If they find evidence of high levels of CO, be sure that you and any family members who were exposed see a doctor immediately, letting him or her know about the CO exposure.
The Best Way To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Finally, have all of your appliances checked for problems before re-using them. If one or more CO alarms go off in your home, leave immediately with all family members and pets. Call 911 and do not re-enter your home until the emergency specialists have ensured you that it is safe. Even a few minutes can lead to loss of consciousness and death if the exposure is high enough. Do not use the problem equipment again until a qualified service technician checks and repairs it.
We Can Help – Contact Us Today.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is an easily avoidable risk, yet every year too many people succumb to it. Like wearing a seatbelt, you may never need a CO detector, but why take a chance? By following these few simple steps, AND installing a carbon monoxide detector by a qualified professional security company, you may become a lifesaver for the ones you care about most.
Depending on your point of view, moving can be either quite exciting or quite a hassle. To the burglar, however, your move is an opportunity. Burglars are opportunists and predators. And what do predators do? They look for the weakest links and pounce on it. During a move, you are busy, distracted, and probably a lot more relaxed in your approach to security.
On average, burglars take between 6 to 10 minutes to net $2,000 worth of your belongings. And that is on a normal day. When you factor in the common mistakes people make while moving, such as leaving boxes outside between trips or leaving the home wide open, the job can be a lot quicker and much more lucrative for the burglar.
Keeping your property safe needs to be at the forefront of your mind, even during a move. It is far better to be proactive and safe with simple steps than to neglect them and leave room for the potential for crime. These simple steps can help keep your belongings safe while you move.
Keep Your Security System
Keep your security system and security practices in place even as you move. A move draws a lot of attention and some of that attention could be from a potential burglar who is hanging around and evaluating the opportunity. Use your security cameras to keep an eye on the home and let others know you’ve got a steady eye on the situation.
Never Leave Your Belongings Out and Unattended
Even if it is a 15-minute trip, never leave the property until all of your belongings are either inside locked up or secure on a moving truck. It may seem like you are saving yourself a bit of time by moving the next load outside and close to transportation but you are actually making it a lot easier for a burglar to breeze by and grab your stuff.
Use Alternate Methods of Marking Boxes
Of course, it is important to know what is packed in each of the boxes, but if you list the items or label them you are also publicizing it to any potential criminal, making it easy to know which boxes to take. Even once you are at the new location, throwing away boxes with lists tells the burglar exactly what is in the house and where to look. Instead, try color coding or some other method of labeling.
Install Home a Home Security System in the New Home Before You Move In
Before you move into your new home, have a new security system in place. Include features such as home security cameras, smart locks, a video doorbell, and motion sensors to deter any criminal thinking a new resident is an easy target. Having security cameras in place is also an advantage if you are making multiple trips to move your household belongings because you can check in on the home between trips.
Founded in 2001, Brinton Security Services is dedicated to providing residential and commercial security and serving clients in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
As the individual’s needs change, the environment must also change in order to provide optimum safety and comfort. This can be especially challenging for caregivers who want their loved ones to be happy, safe and comfortable, yet do not want the environment to feel restrictive. Here are some valuable tips for providing safety without sacrificing the warmth of home.
Secure the Home with Door and Window Alarms
Door and window alarms can help secure your home and alert you if your loved one attempts to leave. Wandering is common among those with dementia, especially at night. Dementia often affects a person’s sense of time causing them to be awake at odd hours. Many instances of wandering happen while the other members of the household are sound asleep.
Do Not Use Latches
Never use latches on the outside of doors to prevent wandering. This can prevent individuals from getting out in an emergency.
Install Keypad Locks
Dementia can cause a person to forget familiar faces, even that of their closest family. This can lead them to lock family out of the house while they get mail or perform outdoor chores. Since hiding a key outside the home increases the risk of burglary, a keypad entry is a perfect home security solution.
Remove Bathroom Door Locks
Bathrooms can pose a huge risk for those suffering from the symptoms of dementia. In addition to locking themselves in either accidentally or purposefully, additional risks include accidental overdose, poisoning, or drowning. Remove the lock so you have access in an emergency.
Use Alarms to Secure Dangerous Items
Keep items such as medications, alcohol, and firearms in a locking cabinet and secured by cabinet alarms.
Install a Security System with CCTV
In the beginning stages of dementia, individuals may be able to stay home alone for short periods of time, but would benefit from a bit of supervision. Using security camera systems, or CCTV, can help you view what is going on remotely, enabling you to spot and prevent danger.
Living with Alzheimer’s means adapting to many changes. Home security products can help manage many of the challenging aspects of living with or caring for someone with forms of dementia, without making the home feel restrictive. If you have any questions about how to make your home safer for the ones you love, call Brinton Security today.
About Us
Founded in 2001, Brinton Security Services has been dedicated to providing protection for both residential and commercial settings serving Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Our aim is to "Protect What Matters!"
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Brinton Security Services
28972 Cumberland Road
Shell Knob, MO 65747 US
Toll Free: (800) 747-9399
Local: (417) 858-0561
Arkansas License: CMPY.0002326
Oklahoma License: 158868
City of Wichita, KS License: 30143