Home Security & Personal Safety Tips

HOME SECURITY & PERSONAL SAFETY

At Commissionaires BC we know security. We want to share our expertise to help make you and your family more secure. We encourage you to take a moment to review these tips to help make your home and family safer.

Personal Safety & Security

SECURING YOUR DOCUMENTS

Important documents and information are best stored in a safe place so they are available if anything happens to the original. Keep a second copy of all original documents in a safe place outside of your home, such as a safety deposit box. Types of documents and information include

FAMILY & MEDICAL

Telephone contacts and email addresses
A recent picture of each family member
Family member’s emergency contact information
Local emergency / assistance contact information
Essential records: birth, marriage, and death certificates
Health cards and / or proof of insurance
Immunization records – list of known medical conditions
Family doctor / pharmacy contact information
List of medications / personal needs (eye glasses, prescription medication)
Legal guardian contact information
Pet information (vaccination records, vet contact information)
An agreed to out of town / province family ‘check in’ number in case you get separated

LEGAL & FINANCIAL

Cash (small bills as well as coins)
Passport and social insurance cards
Wills, power of attorney insurance policies, contracts, deeds, and investment records
Bank account numbers and cheque books
Credit card account numbers
List of financial and investment relations contact numbers
Drivers / operators licences, vehicle registrations
Proof of occupation / income (e.g., paystub)
List of debt obligations (account numbers and due dates)

OTHER HOUSEHOLD & MISCELLANEOUS

Up-to-date inventory of home contents and valuables
Spare keys (home, vehicle, safety deposit box, etc)
Local evacuation routes and evacuation centre contact information
Digital and print copies of family photos

SECURING YOUR HOME

These tips provide a good guideline for making your home more secure and keeping your family safer. Using this list, take some time to walk through your home and see what areas there are for improvement.

DOORS & WINDOWS

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
Use safer door locks: a heavy-duty latch bolt with a dead lock, with panic-proof inside knob, and non-rusting exposed parts
Add dead bolts to your doors. Look for a high quality, one-inch throw dead bolt
Equip all of your windows with locks that are in working order and remember to secure basement windows
Install wide-angle viewers for exterior doors
Consider an alarm. There are many effective systems available today

AROUND YOUR HOME

Make sure your house number is clearly displayed and visible from the street so that responding emergency services can find you
Thieves do not like being visible. Have adequate exterior lighting and check for burned out bulbs regularly
Landscape with security in mind. Avoid creating hiding places when you place trees, shrubs, plants and furniture near doors and walkways
Chose a well-concealed hiding spot for your spare keys, and be aware of your surroundings when you hide and retrieve them
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
Ensure that you know and control who has keys to your home
Install at least one smoke detector on each floor. Test them once every month and change the batteries every year to ensure they work properly in an emergency
Plan fire escape routes with your family and practice drills

WHILE YOU ARE AWAY

Always make your house look as though someone is home
Place lights on timers when you are away
Consider keeping a radio on for some ‘sound’ inside the house
Do not leave notes in your door for friends or delivery people that says you are not at home
Don’t let your answering machine / voice mail or social network page (such as Facebook) message let people know you will be away
While on vacation put a stop on mail and newspaper delivery or ask a neighbour to collect them
Arrange for your lawn to be cut or snow shoveled
Consider securing your home with Homewatch. Whether you are away for a day or several months, don’t leave your house to chance—leave it to Commissionaires. Our professionally trained staff will ensure that your home is secure and looks lived in as long as you are away

FIRE PREVENTION & SAFETY

If fire breaks out, you have seconds to escape the heat, smoke and deadly gases. Families can increase their chances of survival by installing and maintaining smoke alarms and following a few simple procedures.

Install a smoke alarm on every level of your house
Test the alarms once every month and change the batteries every year
Make sure your children are familiar with the sound of the fire alarm
Have a fire escape plan that you can discuss, even with your youngest child, and arrange a family meeting place outside if the alarm does go off
Install a carbon monoxide detector along with your fire alarm, and keep it properly maintained to ensure you are alerted to the presence of this odourless, toxic gas

SAFETY IN THE CAR

To improve safety for you and your family while in the car:

Always lock your car and roll up the windows
Park in a busy, well-lit area

Never leave personal items visible in the car, such as wallets, cell phones, and iPods. Take them with you or store them in the glove box
When approaching your vehicle, look for any activity around it. If you see someone tampering with your car, seek help immediately. DO NOT approach them alone
If you find your car has been broken into, do not touch anything; it is almost impossible for police to investigate if you have tampered with the crime scene

For further tips visit:
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx
www.safetyinfo.ca

FIRST AID KITS

Keep a well-stocked first aid kit, kept within easy reach. Having first aid supplies all together with easy access will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice. Keep one first aid kit in your home and one in each car—and don’t forget to bring a first aid kit on family vacations.

ABOUT YOUR FIRST AID KIT

Choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to carry, and simple to open. Plastic boxes or storage containers are ideal, since they’re lightweight, may have handles, and offer a lot of space. After you’ve stocked the kits, read the first-aid manual so you’ll understand how to use the contents. And if your children are old enough to understand, review the manuals with them as well. Store your first aid kits in places that are out of small children’s reach but easily accessible for adults. Be sure to check the kits regularly and replace missing items or medicines that may have expired.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR FIRST AID KIT

Include in each of your first aid kits:

first aid manual
sterile gauze
medical adhesive tape
adhesive bandages in several sizes
elastic bandage
antiseptic wipes
antibiotic cream (triple-antibiotic ointment)
antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
hydrocortisone cream (1%)
acetaminophen and ibuprofen
extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
tweezers
sharp scissors
safety pins
disposable instant cold and hot packs
calamine lotion
alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
thermometer
plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)
flashlight and extra batteries
mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
triangular bandage
hand cleansing towelettes
soap
your list of emergency phone numbers
blanket (stored nearby)

SAFETY FOR SENIORS

Falls are by far the leading cause of injury and death for seniors. The risk of a dangerous fall can be reduced by making the home as safe as possible for elders. Please walk through your home to identify and remedy potential fall hazards.

Install handrails on both sides of stairs and steps – make sure the handrails go all the way from the top to the bottom of the stairs
Have adequate lighting at both the top and bottom of stairs with easy to access switches
It is easy to trip on unsecured area rugs and carpets. Use a double-sided tape to adhere them to the floor, or remove them completely
Keep stairs free of clutter including toys
Use nightlights in the bedroom, hallways and bathrooms
Install grab bars and non-slip strips or always use a bath mat in the shower and tub
Ensure all spills are cleaned up right away so no one can slip

SAFETY WHILE TRAVELLING

To enhance your personal safety and home security while travelling: Read more

When you go away, cancel all deliveries. A pile of newspapers and other deliverables is a sure sign of an empty home
Careful of where you discuss / post your travel plans
Use timers on your lights to give the impression that someone is home
Arrange for yard work, snow removal
Turn your ringers down on your phone
Unplug your electric garage door opener
Keep your blinds, window covers the same way as when you are at home
Arrange for a house sitter to visit and provide them with contact phone numbers
Do a thorough walk around the interior and exterior of your home before leaving
Do not carry large amounts of cash
Keep cash, traveller’s cheques, cameras and other valuables out of sight
Consider securing your home with Homewatch, our home security service. Whether you are away for a day or several months, don’t leave your house to chance—leave it to Commissionaires. Our professionally trained staff will ensure that your home is secure and looks lived in as long as you are away

For further tips visit:
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx
www.safetyinfo.ca

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

www.getprepared.ca (security preparedness)

www.centennialcollege.ca/empsi (Emergency Management and Public Safety Institute at Centennial College)

www.gov.on.ca/EMO (Emergency Management Ontario)

www.disasterrecovery.org

www.tbs-sct.gc.ca (security awareness)

Note: The information contained in our Security and Safety Tips has been gathered from many reliable sources. Whereas, to the best of our knowledge in this area we believe the contents to be true, we cannot take responsibility for its accuracy.