Keep the season full of cheer: Discover tips to boost safety during the holidays
Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, and enjoying quality time with loved ones are several of the traditions we cherish over the holidays. It’s a time for celebration, but the season has more safety risks. Thankfully, following some basic recommendations and using a modern security system at your Abilene home can improve safety during the holidays.
Going out of town? Deter intrusions at your Abilene home with the latest video cameras and automation
Traveling to see relatives is a holiday tradition, but leaving your Abilene home unoccupied raises the risk of burglaries. But there is a solution. Modern home security systems permit you to keep tabs on your property regardless of your whereabouts with advanced surveillance. You can access live feeds from your cameras through the smart home app on your cell phone.
Leading surveillance tools take an active role in defending your home. If someone gets too close, cameras will emit a sound or shine a light to send them running. Here are serveral other ways you can deter intrustions when you’re traveling:
- Program lights to turn on at different intervals to make your home seem active
- Make sure your home security sign is in clear view
- Make sure doors are secured and your system is armed through the home security app
- Don’t announce on social networks that you’re leaving town
Defend against seasonal porch pirates in Abilene
For countless families, the holidays bring a steady stream of packages to the front door. Don’t entice prowlers by leaving them on your porch. Instead, obtain an immediate update to your mobile device whenever a package appears so you know to grab it.
When you can, schedule deliveries for when you know you’ll be home. When that’s not possible, see if a neighbor can take them in. You can open your door and deactivate your alarm from your mobile device. If a person is knocking on your door, you can talk to them via your video doorbell’s 2-way talk function.
Practice established fire safety during the holidays in your Abilene home
String lights, candles, Christmas trees, and family meals are a part of the holidays, but they also put you at risk for fires. Here are several tips on how to avoid them:
- Kitchen blazes escalate during the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. Keep a close eye on a crowded stovetop. Keep children at a distance to protect against burns. Remember to follow manufacturer instructions when operating fryers.
- Water Christmas trees and keep them a safe distance from fireplaces and open flames, such as candles. Remember that trees get more combustible as they dry out.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets with extension cords and lights. Loose connections and older outlets are at risk of sparking and may lead to fires.
- Burning candles are beautiful but also dangerous around trees and other decor. Place them thoughtfully and always blow out flames when leaving an area.
Monitored fire alarms are an excellent way to upgrade your protection. When sensors like carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms link to your home security, you and your dedicated monitoring specialists will know whenever an alarm goes off, whether you’re on site or not.
Stay safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in Abilene
Discover all the equipment you need to stay safe during the holidays and all year round from Vivint. Our Abilene smart homes include advanced features like custom automation, monitored environmental alarms and surveillance with active deterrence. Give us a call at (325) 378-0098 and give your loved ones the gift of better security this holiday season.