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News & Updates
Safety & security articles
October 1, 2019
Home Fire Escape Plan
Fires victimize hundreds of thousands of families in the US every year resulting in thousands of deaths. Now is the time to make sure your family is safe. A Home Fire Escape Plan is a good place to start.
October 28, 2018
Trick or Treat Safety Tips
Halloween is here! What an exciting time for kids, with all the fun parties and trick or treating with friends. It is important to use extra caution this time of year though, to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Here are some rules to tell your kids to ensure that they have a fun and safe time trick or treating:
1. Do not wander off and always stay with your friends.
2. Always stay in brightly lit, familiar areas.
3. Never enter a stranger’s car or home.
4. While crossing the street, make sure to put electronic devices away; look up and walk, don’t run.
5. Wait to eat your treats until you get home.
July 9, 2018
Deadbolt Locks are an Easy Target for Burglars
Are deadbolt locks good enough security for your doors?
Not necessarily! Burglars know how to make a specially cut key that is used to easily pick all but the more expensive premium deadbolt locks. The procedure they use is called “lock bumping”. Criminals approach easy guidelines for making a “lock bumping” key. Once the key is made, opening a standard deadbolt bolt is so easy, a kid could do it.
The “lock bumping” is regular for criminals to use. Allstate Wireless Security feels it is very important to teach people about this issue so we can all be able to make a move to better secure our families and belongings.
Great locks are an extremely important piece of your security. Make sure to buy excellent deadbolt bolts that are meant to resist “lock bumping”. A quality alarm system is also an extremely important part to your security. In the event that you have questions, make sure you talk with an Allstate Wireless Security consultant.
June 20, 2018
Summer Vacation Tips
- Contact the post office to let them know to hold your mail. The United States Postal Service provides a free service to retain your mail for up to 30 days. You can schedule for them to hold your mail on the U. S. Postal Service website.
- Install timers to have your lights turn on for a few hours in the evening. It is very costly to keep your lights on during your entire vacation and it is obvious to a criminal that you are gone if the lights are on in the middle of the night. Criminals will see the lights flick on and off and assume that a person is home.
- Lock every door and window, even small spaces like pet doors. Make sure all keys are accounted for and do not hide a key somewhere outside as criminals know the usual hiding places. It is also a good idea to turn off the garage door, thieves can open it up with a universal remote.
- Although costly, it is a good idea to hire a house sitter to water the plants, collect newspapers and take care of pets. If you have a few pets, it will be cheaper to hire a pet sitter than to board them. To make your house seem lived in, it is also a good idea to hire a landscaper to mow your lawn while you’re away.
- Don’t let a lot of people know you are about to be out of town for a long period of time, especially on social media. Do not post pictures of your vacation until after you are back home. Even if you have high security settings on your social media accounts, it could be possible for unwanted eyes to see your posts.
- Install a home security system and video cameras. Not only will you be instantly notified if anything happens, you will also be able to easily see what is going on on an app on your smartphone. It will ensure you have peace of mind so that you will be able to enjoy your relaxing vacation.
January 23, 2018
Carbon monoxide is deadly
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas. This is the reason carbon monoxide is so deadly. A victim can succumb without being aware of the presence of the gas. A sleeping person could die while asleep.
Symptoms of CO poisoning
According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:
- Dizziness
- Dull headache
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
If sleeping or intoxicated, the victim is especially vulnerable. People may become disoriented, develop irreversible brain damage or even die before anyone realizes there is a problem.
The warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning may be subtle. But the condition is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you think you or someone you’re with may have carbon monoxide poisoning, immediately get the victim into fresh air and quickly seek medical care.
What causes carbon monoxide?
The incomplete burning of carbon-containing compounds generates carbon monoxide. This occurs when there is not enough oxygen during combustion to produce carbon dioxide (CO2). A stove or an internal combustion engine in an enclosed area can produce an accumulation of carbon monoxide.
The most common sources of CO are motor vehicle exhaust from running automobiles or electric generators, smoke from fires and fumes from engines. Malfunctioning or obstructed engine exhaust systems are often a source. A blocked fireplace or wood-burning heater or stove can be a source. Other sources include cigarette smoke, boat engines, charcoal grills, kerosene space heaters, gas water heaters, and smoke inhalation from burning wood or brush within wildfires.
Non-monitored detectors
A number of carbon monoxide detectors are available. Simple, un-monitored battery-powered detectors make a loud alert that can be heard by family members who happen to be within earshot from the detector. These devices cannot be monitored by a alarm monitoring facility.
Monitored detectors
Monitored carbon monoxide detectors are designed to alert emergency response or notify you if you are away from home. This type of detector is typically added to a security system offered by a professional security system installing company.
Monitored or non-monitored?
One concern is if residents return to a home filled with carbon monoxide. The detector may have sounded but the battery could be consumed by the time the residents return. Without monitoring, the carbon monoxide detector is rendered totally ineffective.
If using a non-monitored, battery powered detector, family members could be confused when awakened by an alert sound they seldom or never heard. Children may not know what to do. With a monitored system, monitoring personnel can call residents and give clear instructions – after alerting emergency responders.
Call Allstate for more information
Do you want to learn more about carbon monoxide detectors and how they can protect your family? Talk to an Allstate Wireless Security professional for free expert advice.
