Safety at Home
Follow these tips to ensure safety for you and your family in your home.
- Identifying your home is very important. Make sure your street number is clearly displayed so that responding emergency services can easily find your home;
- Thieves do not like being visible. Sufficient bright light around your home may deter would-be thieves;
- Landscape with security in mind – avoid creating hiding places when you place trees, shrubs, plants and furniture;
- Keep your garage as safe as you keep your home. Ensure that all doors into the garage are secure and locked at all times;
- Lock yard tools, axes, hammers and shovels away in your shed or garage; they are effective tools thieves can use to break into your home;
- Lock ladders inside or secure them to a non-moveable object to prevent thieves using them to gain entry to the second floor;
- Exterior doors should be solid core; it is advisable to avoid doors with wood or glass panels. All doors should have a secure fit with a solid frame;
- Ensure that you know and control who has keys to your home;
- Equip all of your windows with locks that are in working order;
- Install at least one smoke detector on each floor. Test them twice a year and change the batteries regularly to ensure they work properly in an emergency;
- Plan fire escape routes with your family and practice drills.