Keep the season full of cheer: Discover tips to boost safety during the holidays
Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, and sharing quality time with family members are a few of the things we appreciate over the holidays. It’s a time for cheer, but the season also brings more safety risks. Thankfully, adhering to some basic guidelines and using a well-equipped security system at your Albany property can help ensure safety during the holidays.
Are you traveling? Prevent break-ins at your Albany home with advanced video cameras and automation
Going to visit relatives is an important element of the holidays, but leaving your Albany property unoccupied raises the threat of burglaries. But there is an answer. Modern home security systems permit you to keep tabs on your property regardless of where you are with innovative surveillance. You can view live feeds from your cameras with the home security app on your smartphone.
Top surveillance tools can even actively protect your home from thieves. If a person gets too close, cameras will emit a sound or beam a light to scare them away. Here are serveral other ways you can avoid break-ins when you’re traveling:
- Set lights to turn on at different intervals to make your house appear occupied
- Make sure your home security yard sign is in clear view
- Go to your smarphone app to ensure doors are locked and your system armed
- Don’t announce on social media that you’re going out of town
Defend against holiday porch pirates in Albany
For many families, the holidays bring a constant flow of packages to the front door. Avoid enticing thieves by letting them sit on your porch. Rather, get an immediate update to your smartphone whenever something arrives so you can retrieve it.
Whenever possible, arrange deliveries for when you’re home. Otherwise, ask a neighbor to collect them. You can open your door and temporarily disarm your system from your phone. If someone is on your porch, you can communicate with them via your doorbell camera’s bi-directional talk function.
Follow established fire safety during the holidays in your Albany home
Christmas trees, candles, homemade meals, and string lights are common during the holidays, but they also heighten your risk of fires. Here are some tips on how to prevent them:
- Cooking fires escalate during the holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving. Maintain a close watch of a crowded stovetop. Keep kids at a distance to avoid burns. Remember to adhere to manufacturer guidelines when cooking with fryers.
- Hydrate Christmas trees and keep them away from fireplaces and open flames, such as candles. Be mindful that trees become more fire-prone as they dehydrate.
- Don’t overburden electrical outlets with too many lights and extension cords. Insecure connections and faulty outlets are known to spark and may cause fires.
- Glowing candles are enchanting but also dangerous around trees and other decor. Place them thoughtfully and always blow out flames when exiting an area.
Monitored fire alarms are a fantastic way to enhance your protection. When safety devices like fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors link to your home’s security, you and your dedicated monitoring professionals will be alerted when an alarm sounds, whether you’re home or away.
Remain safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in Albany
Find all the equipment you need to stay safe during the holidays and every day of the year from Vivint. Our Albany home security systems include innovative features like custom automation, monitored fire alarms and video cameras with active deterrence. Contact us at (518) 900-7096 and give your household the gift of better security this season.