The Home Safety Council offers tips to keep your home safe this summer.
Turn Up the Lights
- Put bright lights over porches and walkways in the front and back.
Lock It Up
- All doors to the outside should have working locks.
- Garage and shed doors need working locks too.
- All windows should have working locks.
- Keep all doors to the outside, sliding doors, and windows locked.
Be Able to Get Out
- Make sure everyone can open all locks from inside your home.
- Don’t have deadbolt locks that lock with an inside key. You need to get out fast if a fire starts. A missing key could trap you inside.
- Replace inside-key locks with deadbolt locks that have a “thumb turn” instead of an indoor key.
- Make sure everyone in your family can reach the “thumb turn” latch.
- Have window locks that open from inside. Do not nail windows shut. Make sure they open easily.
- If you have security bars on doors and windows, have a “quick-release” latch. This makes it easy to get outside in an emergency.
- Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use the latch.
Don’t Help Intruders
- Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can’t hide.
- Keep ladders stored in a locked shed or garage so they can’t be used to climb into your home.
- Keep shades or curtains closed over garage and shed windows.
- Keep shades or curtains closed over your home windows after dark.
- Don’t leave toys, tools and equipment in the yard.
When You’re Gone a Few Days
- Make your home look like someone is there.
- Do yard work before you leave.
- Have a family member or friend bring in your mail and newspaper while you are gone.
Do you have a working and monitored home security system?
