​Summer Safety in Seattle

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 30, 2013
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Category: safety tips for kids

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Summertime Safety Tips for Kids

The kids are ready for summer, and chances are, so are parents. There is lots of fun to be had during the summertime, but there are also many safety tips for kids that need to be taken into consideration to ensure everyone is safe during this time of year. When it comes to summer safety in Seattle, there is an endless list of topics to cover. Even though every topic can’t be covered below, some very important ones are.

Water Safety

Correct water safety means parents or caretakers must be supervising at all times. Whether a child is two or 17, it is imperative that an adult be around when the kids are in the water. More so, even if the kids are just playing in a sprinkler system, it is still important to watch them at all times. For children that are under 12, it is important for caretakers to be within arm’s length of them at all times when playing in water over 2 inches.

Dehydration Safety

Summer safety in Seattle includes making sure the kiddos stay hydrated. It is important for caretakers to remind the kids to drink plenty of fluids, otherwise the kids will go without liquids until it’s too late. A great way to ensure the children stay hydrated is to have them drink 8 oz of water every 45 minutes. Also, from 10 am to 6 pm, avoid strenuous activities.

Poison Ivy Safety

It’s summertime. Chances are, the kids will want to roam in the woods. Make sure they wear protective clothing when going on a wooded adventure. Most importantly, caretakers should be able to recognize what poison ivy plants look like so they can be avoided.

Tick Bite Safety

One of the best safety tips for kids and parents to follow during the summertime is avoiding tick bites. Great ways to go about accomplishing this goal are to wear tick/bug repellent, to perform tick checks and to wear protective clothing when outside.

Sun Safety

It is important to include sun protection in a Summer Safety in Seattle Precaution Plan. This means the sun should be avoided during peak hours; however, when it cannot be avoided, caretakers and children alike should wear 100 percent UV protection sunscreen. The sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going out, followed then by reapplying it every two hours. If swimming or sweating, it is important to reapply it more often.

Helmet Safety

Kids tend to get their bikes out during the summertime. This is great, but it is important to enforce helmet safety rules. Such rules should include wearing appropriate sized helmets as well as wearing them at all times when “on wheels.

Grilling Safety

There’s no better time to fire up the grill than during the summertime. If certain safety precautions are not taken, grilling out can lead to horrible consequences. It is imperative to not let the children around the grill as well as to make sure all foods are cooked to a safe cooking temperature.

Allied Fire & Security is dedicated to the safety of you and your family year round. For more information on security products and services in the Pacific Northwest.

​Fire Statistics Indicate Need for Fire Alarms in Portland

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 29, 2013
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Category: fire alarms Portland

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently reported that between 2007 and 2011, an average of seven people died every day in the U.S. in home fires. They report that smoke alarms increase the survival rate of occupants by 60%, but that active alarm systems increase the possibility of survival even more. The fire alarm systems provided by Allied Fire & Security give you and your family the best chance of preventing destructive home fires.

This appalling statistic underlines the importance of protecting yourself from fires. Reasonable precautions can be made at home. Installation of appropriate fire extinguishers, making sure that flammables are kept away from fires and heaters, securing matches and lighters from children, and not smoking inside are all easy adjustments to make.

Allied Fire & Security is a vital source of help in Portland home security. Most people have smoke alarms to help protect their homes from fire, but smoke alarms’ batteries malfunction or alerts are not heard if nobody is home to hear them. Allied Fire and Security provides premiere fire alarms in Portland by monitoring all aspects of your security system and making sure that help arrives as quickly as possible.

Allied Fire & Security provides the best in Portland home security, including fire alarms for Portland home and business owners. Our experts can provide not only installation, but also offer guidance on how best to protect your home, family, and business in the area. Allied can do regular checks of existing home fire protection and security systems to make certain that they are functioning properly, as well as give advice to homeowners and business owners about strategies to more adequately protect their premises.

For example, many homeowners build their homes on wooded lots, not aware of their exposure to fire hazards in the form of trees and shrubbery that expose their houses to possible forest fires. Landscaping must be done carefully so it doesn’t become a fire hazard. Buildup of debris from falling leaves and shedding needles is often ignored. Some devastating fires in the West have been caused solely because of these hazards in the past few years. Our fire alarm systems can alert you to the possibility of damage to your house within seconds, so that you and your family have the best chance of saving your home and lives during a fire.

Our professionals in Portland home security can provide burglar, fire, and intrusion alarms for both business and residential places in this area. If you need surveillance cameras for anything, including parking lots, consult us. We can make your employees and customers safe and secure.

In short, Allied Fire & Security can give protection at an affordable price to the residents of Oregon and Washington. Our trained and certified employees will make your home or business safer.

How Can a Security System Save You Money?

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 24, 2013
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Category: Building Automation, Home Automation, Home Security Systems

When you invest in a security system you may think that it’s just about peace of mind at a cost that may or may not pay off in the long term. Sure, if you are the target of a burglary you’ll be glad to have it but what if you aren’t? Is the money wasted? The truth, however, is that a security system is an investment that will pay off in more way than one. It will lower your chances of a home burglary but there are also a lot of other perks that come with a security system that you might not know about.

security system

Insurance Premiums

One perk that may be often overlooked when looking into a home security system is the reduction in homeowners insurance that will usually come with it. If you are paying high premiums on your homeowners insurance you might be happy to find out that you can get a reduction by installing a home security system. As we know insurance companies can be quite nitpicky but this means that the reduction on your homeowners insurance premiums may correlate to the quality of your security system. If you can show your insurance provider that your home is at a lower risk of damage they’ll be happy to lower your premiums. This doesn’t just mean burglary but most security systems will also come with fire and carbon monoxide detectors.

Home Automation

One great thing about the more modern security systems is the ability to automate your home. How can this save you money though? The savings here is mostly going to come from a lowered utility bills. You can automate your home heating and lighting to turn on and off when you want it to and make sure that you aren’t paying for heating when you are out of the house and make sure that your lights go off automatically when you don’t need them. It’s just one way to make your life a bit easier and save energy and money at the same time. You’d be surprised at how saving a little money each month on utilities can add up over time and really justify the home automation.

Burglary

Lastly and likely most obvious is the protection you’ll get from burglars. This is the most direct result of buying a security system and can save you money from stolen good as well as save you a lot of time and worry. Even if you have homeowners insurance and your stolen good will have their monetary value replaces it still involves a long and tiresome ordeal of negotiating with your insurance provider. If time is money haggling with an insurance company can be quite costly. A home security system can prevent all of this from happening in the first place and has the ability to protect those items that may have special sentimental value that an insurance company might not recognize.

 

Summer Pool Safety Tips

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 18, 2013
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Category: Home Safety

With summer right around the corner it might be time to get back in your home pool for some family fun and exercise. Everyone loves a pool and with good reason, but it’s always a good idea to lay out some basic rules for your family and friends around the pool before you let them loose this summer. With some basic safety precautions and common sense it’s easy to avoid poolside accidents and let the fun roll on all summer long.

summer safety

The name of the game here is prevention. However, when it’s already too late for that preparation is a close 2nd. One thing worth considering is an emergency CPR course before you kick off the summer for at least one member of your family. This can be the difference between life and death should a problem arise and additionally will be a great skill set someone can keep for the rest of their lives. Local weekend classes are available almost everywhere for a small fee and are a great idea for poolside safety.

When you have young children it’s important to maintain a very close eye on them while they are in the pool. Even if your child is already a comfortable swimmer there are always potential problems that could occur. Should your child get a cramp, an asthma attack, or hit their head while diving they will need assistance. Be vigilant and aware and you should be able to prevent problems while your youngsters enjoy the pool.

If you have toddlers be sure to put a small fence around your pool. This is a basic precaution that should be in place no matter how attentive of a parent you are. It doesn’t have to be fancy so long as it does the job properly.

Make a list of pool rules and make sure that anyone that uses your pool follows your rules. Use your common sense here to make the list and be sure to enforce the rules so that they are properly heeded in the future. Some examples are: no running around the pool, always swim with a buddy, tell an adult if you’re going to swim etc… If possible it’s a great idea to write down your list and post it somewhere visible near the pool area.

Additionally, you may want to consider swimming lessons for children. It’ll make your swimming pool a safer place and provide them with a skill they can use in the future.

Lastly, make sure that you aren’t over treating your pool with harmful chemicals. Find a good balance of safe chemicals to keep your pool clean while not exposing its users to potential harm.

With all that being said don’t be afraid to enjoy your home pool come summer and let the good time roll. Be vigilant in your safety but don’t let it ruin a healthy activity and a chance for your family to get together for some fun.

 

Preparing Your Home for the Elderly

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 12, 2013
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Category: Home Safety

Preparing your home for elderly visitors or residents can be a challenging task but also a necessary facet to maintaining their health and wellbeing. There are always going to be different obstacles depending on the circumstances but it’s necessary to be prepared to face the challenges and make some easy home adjustments. At first it might seem like a daunting task but in reality preparing your home for the elderly is simply the sum of a lot of minor changes. Here we’ll look at some easy home adjustments you can make to make your home more suitable and safe for the elderly or movement impaired.

First you’ll need to assess your situation and identify any major obstacles in your home that might pose a problem for an elderly person. This might mean narrow stairs or slippery surfaces that you have to account for and amend. Take some time to survey your home and take note of any problem areas that may require special attention.

Falling is one of the main dangers that an elderly person will face in the home environment so it’s important to do all that you can to minimize this risk in your home. When it comes to floors you may want to consider putting in carpeting as opposed to the slick hardwood already in place. If you have a hard floor with rugs you’ll want to make sure that they have skidproof traction underneath them. Additionally it is pretty much imperative to put traction mats in the bathroom. Bathroom accidents are among the most common because the mixture of tile and water provides a dangerously slick surface. In addition to traction mats it’s also wise to install a handrail in the should or also on the wall in the bathroom.

It is also a good ideal to install handrails in parts of the house that will be commonly traversed by your elderly guest or resident. Depending on their level of mobility stairs might not be an option. If this is the case it’s possible to install some specialized hardware that can carry them up the stairs in a seat escalator; however, it may be just be easier to reorganize your home so that they can have everything they need on the first floor. If there are steps that lead up to your home you may need to install an access ramp preferably with rubber treads to prevent slipping.

Lastly, if possible, you want to try and make your new guest or resident as comfortable as possible and reduce the amount of space they have to travel to get to their needs. Try and give them a bedroom that is near the bathroom and kitchen without any hazardous obstacles between them. With all that being said you may come to appreciate having a new guest despite the challenges it may provide.

Home Security in WA Excels with Honeywell Total Connect

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 9, 2013
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Category: home security WA

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Professionals of home security in WA advise homeowners to incorporate a comprehensive home security system into their residence to guard against the intrusion of burglars. In the past few years, with the advent of mobile gadgets, home video surveillance and the combination of those technologies into a complete package, homes protected with video surveillance have seen more crimes prevented and intruders arrested, giving many homeowners a sense of security.

Seattle security systems like Total Connect allow homeowners to watch over specific rooms, outside areas and keep up-to-date with that surveillance with specialized security apps. Units begin with a wireless keypad control center that acts as a central location for controlling the protection of doors and windows. Sensors are placed around specific entry points that a thief may use to gain entry into a home. A wireless motion sensor is also included and has the technology to avoid unnecessary alarming when pets are present. Sensors, lights and a fire security system can all be easily maintained and accessed from a central control unit. 24-hour fire alarm and home security monitoring allows homeowners to feel safe when they are inside of a house.

A person isn’t always home though. Often, burglaries occur when intruders case a household to determine which times are best for committing their crimes. Video surveillance solves that challenge and is incorporated into a Total Connect system customized for home security in WA. Video cameras can be placed inside strategic rooms and outside of homes or businesses. Pets can be monitored, babies and nannies can be observed and a mother that works late can check up on her kids to make sure that they arrived home from school safe and are diligently completing their homework. Businesses are not left out of this security solution as Seattle security systems can be set up around registers or employee workstations. A Total Connect video surveillance camera adds a layer of protection to a business and employee that holds nighttime business hours when crimes often occur.

Remote access is one of the key advantages to using a Total Connect system. With the latest smartphones and tablets, a system can be armed, disarmed and video feeds can be monitored. The pushbutton controls on a Total Connect interactive system are intuitive and easy to use. Main sections include security, video and an automation area. The security controls show which alarms are set and any current problem areas. The automation control area allows lights to be switched on and off in separate areas of a home. It also allows thermostat control and garage door access. The video control area allows a user to choose specific cameras and move them if it is required. These free apps allow a user to view as many as six live camera feeds at once. Cameras can be panned, tilted or swiped across a perimeter. Images from cameras are sent instantly to a person’s smartphone or tablet where they can be monitored when an individual is away.

Event notifications can also be sent via text or email. These handy alerts relay extreme temperature changes, motion sensor disruption and restricted movement of sensors. It’s easy to see why a Total Connect system is recommended by top home security professionals in Washington.

Allied Fire & Security provides Total Connect services as part of their extensive home security options in the Pacific Northwest.

Preparing Your Home for a Toddler

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : May 6, 2013
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Category: Home Safety

As a proud parent you have the ever rewarding (though sometimes difficult) responsibility to take care of your child until they can do so for themselves. This, for the most part, won’t be so bad and can be quite a rewarding experience for you. However, there comes a time in a child’s life where they will push your patience to the limit and let their curiosity put them in often times dubious situations. When your baby becomes a toddler and beyond they will have the mobility and curiosity to be a danger to themselves if allowed to. You’ll need to take some simple home precautions to make it more difficult for your child to hurt themselves in your home. Here we’ll look at some easy ways to make your home safer and more ‘child-proof.’

toddlers can be trouble

Locks

Toddlers are known for having an appetite for adventure and if given the chance will put just about anything in their mouths. This is when it will be of paramount importance to keep dangerous chemicals, like cleaning equipment, locked away and safe from prying hands. You don’t need padlocks on every cabinet in your house but it is a good idea to make sure you have some sort of child proof locking system where you keep potentially toxic chemicals. This is even more important if it is being stored on ground level, like under the sink, as is common in many households. These same guidelines go for potentially hazardous materials that you may store in your garage as well.

Corners

As your baby starts walking around more often it won’t be too long before they learn how to run. This can quickly become a hazard once their height puts their head right on level with sharp coffee table or chair corners. It’s a painful lesson for a child to learn so it’s a good idea to put some quick padded protectors on especially dangerous looking corners. You can buy these ready made and easy to apply or make some yourself with some foam padding and tape so long as aesthetics aren’t too important for you. This simple precaution can save your child a world of hurt and a nasty scar. Additionally, it’s a good idea to be wary of sliding glass doors. It’s a good idea to put decals around eye level so your child can (maybe) identify the hazard.

Additional Guidelines

Be sure to cover any sockets within potential reach of your child. This will prevent any dangerous accidents that could be caused by sticking metal or other conductive materials inside of them. Additionally, it’s a good idea to remove dangling cords from countertop appliances or other miscellaneous appliances around the house. Avoid ceramic and glass when feeding your child and identify any possible choking hazards among their toys.

Lastly, the most important way to make your home safe for a young child is to be attentive and apply your common sense. If something seems unsafe it probably is. When your child is young do all you can to protect them and take some simple steps to prevent accidents before they happen in your home.

Security Precautions for Vacation

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : April 24, 2013
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Category: Safe Home Maintenance

When you leave your home for an extended period of time, like for vacation, you quickly become an easy target for a home burglary. Thieves are always on the lookout for easy marks and there’s nothing easier than a vacant house. There are some important steps you can take before you leave for long periods of time to make sure that you don’t become an obvious target. Next time you plan a vacation be sure to mind your home before you leave so you don’t have any nagging regrets during your trip or come back to a crime scene.

One of your biggest assets when you leave for vacation is going to be a good relationship with your neighbors. Having someone trustworthy for a few favors will go a long way in making your life easier while you’re away and your home a less obvious mark.

Mail

One of the easiest things you can do to deter theft during a vacation is put a hold on your mail. This can be done with a quick phone call to the postal service. An alternative is to call on that trusty neighbor of yours and have them pick up your mail daily. If you have a newspaper subscription you could lend it to a neighbor without one for the duration in exchange for picking up your mail. When the mail starts to pile up your house starts to look like an easy target so be sure to put a hold on it for the duration or have a friend or neighbor pick it up.

Lock Up

This one might seem obvious but you need to be thorough in a last inspection of the house and make sure that all of the doors and windows are locked. There’s no worse feeling than leaving for vacation and wondering if you remembered to lock up all the doors and windows. For this reason, one great tip is to do something weird while locking up so you can distinctly remember and not have to worry about it later. For example, you could could to three in another language or spin in a circle after locking up and you won’t have to worry about it during precious vacation time so much.

Lights

When you leave your home for vacation you should think about installing a programmable light timer that can periodically turn on and off your lights while you’re gone. If your lights are either permanently off for an extended period it becomes clear that you’re out of town and your home becomes susceptible to robbery. Alternatively, it seems suspect (and also racks up a large electric bill) if you leave some of your lights on for the entire time as well. By getting a programmable light timer you can create the illusion that somebody is home and deter potential thieves.

Additional Precautions

There are a few more small things that you can do to minimize the chance a burglar realizes that nobody is home. If you’re gone for a long period of time and have a lawn get a neighbor or friend to mow it occasionally. An unkempt lawn in an otherwise tidy neighborhood is a dead giveaway. Also, if possible get someone to park in front of your house if you don’t regularly use a garage. Lastly, don’t leave a message on your voicemail saying that you’re out of town and when you plan to get back. If someone is casing your house and get a hold of your phone number this voicemail would be a big green light to go forward with their plans.

Extra Information on Video Surveillance

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : April 18, 2013
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Category: Building Automation, Digital Video Systems

Video surveillance is quickly becoming a staple of home security so it is important to stay informed of your options when looking to purchase a video surveillance system. While once this was only reserved for commercial purposes it is becoming both more affordable for domestic use and more advanced and functional. Digital video has quickly become the standard and gives you a lot of advantages over the analogue variant of the past. Here we’ll look at some of the important criteria to consider when looking to purchase a home video surveillance system.

digi video camera

Digital vs Analogue

This one is a bit of a no-brainer and you’d likely be hard pressed to find an analogue home surveillance system for sale new nowadays. The advantages of digital recording are apparent in ease of video storage and the added bonus of integration into other digital technologies. You will be able to more easily pair your home security cameras with your security system and even potentially your smartphone. Digital recording also allows for wireless transmission of data which can make for an easier setup and installation.

Motion Activated

One great way to approach home security surveillance is to use motion activated cameras. This will cut down on the amount of hard disk space that your recordings use as well as allow you to forgo hours of searching through tape to find a specific incident. Modern security cameras can be programmed to beginning recording at the first moment of motion and save you a lot of hassle.

Location

Where you place your cameras is an important factor to consider before purchasing. You need to think about vulnerable locations in your home where a video cameras can get a good view of any potential perpetrators. Make sure that the view is unobstructed and preferably in a location that a potential thief would have to pass through to reach an entrance. Also worth considering is covering any entrances to your garage, which is a common target for home burglaries.

Maintenance

While usually home security cameras are pretty easy to maintain it is still important to do so. This basically means making sure that it is working periodically and checking to make sure the lens is clean and nothing is obstructing the view. The amount of maintenance is minimal but important should an issue arrive and you find you can’t get a clear picture of the thief because the lens was dirty.

With all that being said home security cameras are a great investment that don’t require a very active approach to home security. The maintenance is minimal and aside from the upfront cost it won’t cost much to keep it going. Additionally just having security cameras visible on your property is a strong deterrent to potential thieves.

More DIY Home Security Improvements

Posted by :Dominic Schwebs On : April 12, 2013
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Category: Home Safety, Home Security Systems, Safe Home Maintenance

This time we’re going to look at another way you can improve your home security with a simple do-it-yourself project. Last time we looked at the importance of peepholes and how easy it can be to install or upgrade your peephole for additional security. Now, we’re going to look at some different ways you can reinforce your doors so they will be more resistant to break ins. This can basically be done by installing a reinforcement plate on the door and door jamb that stop either from splintering or breaking upon heavy impact. Here’s how it’s done:

reinforced door

To begin you’ll need to take measurements of the thickness of your door and the distance between the entry knob and the deadbolt cylinder. Once you have these measurements you’ll need to purchase a door reinforcement kit with the appropriate proportions according to your measurement. Here you have a few options based on materials and either single side or wraparound. The price will fluctuate based on strength and you should buy what you think is necessary for your home.

Next you’ll use the same measurements to buy a door jamb reinforcement plate. This tends to be a little bit more expensive but is necessary for this project and works well in conjunction with the door reinforcement.

Once you have the materials you will need to remove the door knob and deadbolt cylinder and begin installation of the door reinforcement kit. This should come with instructions and likely longer screws than were previously used. You’ll need to drill pilot holes before installation but it should be pretty straightforward and sit snugly on the frame of your door. Once this is complete you can reattach the door knob and deadbolt cylinder.

Now you can begin installation of the door jamb reinforcement. You will need to mark the latch and deadbolt centers on your door jamb before installation with a pencil so that everything will align correctly. Remove the original latch and strike plates and any previously added weather stripping. Now you will need to drill pilot holes where indicated by the instruction and attach the door jamb reinforcement.

Once this is all in place your door and lock will be much more resistance to break ins by force. The wood or other material won’t splinter and break upon impact because of the metal reinforcement and you can rest easier with the knowledge that your home is more secure through a simple and fun home security project.