If you have a fireplace, there are key facts that you should know about chimney care and safety. Factors like the type of wood to burn, annual maintenance, and chimney caps are essential to safety and proper care. This comprehensive guide will give you the tips that you need.

Regular Maintenance

It is important to have your chimney cleaned once every year. Additionally, you should also have a inspect it for signs of damage or hazards. You need to be sure that the chimney is in safe condition before the cold months arrive and you start lighting your fireplace. If you notice any signs of damage or deterioration, you should have it inspected immediately and avoid lighting fires.

The main reason to have your chimney cleaned every year is because regular use causes buildup of soot and creosote. Soot and other debris will inhibit the airflow and efficiency of your fireplace. Creosote and other materials can also pose a fire hazard when they build up over time.

The best time of year to get your chimney inspected, surprisingly, is not in the fall or on the verge of winter. It is best to schedule inspections during spring or summer to ensure that professionals can perform maintenance or fixes before winter. In colder months, professionals may become overbooked and not able to resolve chimney issues before you need to use it.

The Importance of Chimney Caps

You may notice many chimneys do not have chimney caps, but this is often because the homeowner does not realize the cost savings and other benefits that they provide. Two of the most important reasons to have a chimney cap are to prevent water damage and to keep animals out.

Without a chimney cap, rain, snow, and other precipitation can freely fall into your chimney. Eventually, this is likely to damage the damper, and you will not be able to open and close the chimney properly. When the chimney damper is closed, it is a carbon monoxide risk to use the fireplace. If the damper cannot seal properly when closed due to water damage, the fireplace will be drafty and provide less warmth on chilly days.

Precipitation also wears away at the flue lining, which exists to protect the chimney from catching fire. The mortar joints can also become damaged from water, and this can lead to deterioration of the chimney and a need for costly repairs.

Chimney caps have a wire mesh along the sides that prevent animals from entering without inhibiting ventilation. If birds, squirrels, and other animals enter the chimney, they often cannot get out. Consequently, they die and leave a carcass that can catch fire or attract insects that might infest your home. Furthermore, when animals enter the chimney, their droppings can cause unpleasant smells. Chimney caps are an efficient and economical way to keep pests out.

Considering all the safety concerns of water damage and animal infestations, the bottom line is that every chimney should have a cap. When you prevent blockage and damage, you will save money on repairs. Keeping the chimney free of debris means you will need less firewood to produce adequate heat, yet another reason that a chimney cap saves money.

Choose the Right Type of Firewood

Many fireplace owners are not aware that the type of wood they use can make a significant difference in safety, efficiency, and warmth. Hardwoods are an excellent choice because they burn slower, last longer, and provide greater warmth than softer varieties. Hardwood tree examples are oak, maple, and birch. Hardwood also comes from fruit trees like cherry and apple. Woods from trees that have needles tend to be softer and cheaper, but they are sub-par choices. Softwood comes from trees such as poplar, pine, and fir.

Another crucial factor in choosing firewood is to use “seasoned” wood, which means it has dried for sufficient time after cutting and is free of water content. Freshly cut firewood, also known as “greenwood,” has water content that prevents it from burning properly. Greenwood tends to produce high levels of smoke and steam, but it will not produce much flame.

Other types of wood to avoid burning are construction wood, painted wood, particle board or cardboard, and other types that are not meant for fireplaces. These materials might contain chemicals that will contaminate the air with toxins when burned.

When storing your firewood, place it on dry surfaces like concrete, gravel, or plastic rather than soil. If you want to cover the wood to repel rain, only cover the top so that the wood can have airflow to keep it dry. It is also important not to store wood inside the house because it can attract insects and other pests. Only bring wood indoors when you are ready to burn it. By following these essential tips for taking care of your chimney, you can avoid some common mistakes that can lead to home expenses and repairs. You will save money when your chimney works more efficiently, and you will have peace of mind that your chimney is not a fire hazard or harming the air quality in your home.

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For aged between 50 and 80, it is highly desirable to live in their homes as long as possible. However, nearly half of them (47%) give little to no thought to modifying their living places. Such modifications should concern increasing home safety, first and foremost.

Why is a safe living place crucial for the elderly, and how can you make your home more secure to age in?

Let us answer those questions in turn.

Reasons for Extra Home Safety in Older Age

As many senior citizens are staying in place, in-home safety is an important topic that correlates to the quality of life in older adults as they age.

It contributes to the following:

• Supporting physical health
• Caring for mental well-being
• Achieving higher comfort in life
• Remaining independent longer
• Establishing peace of mind for the family

Noticeably, older people who live alone are more vulnerable to burglary, robbery, and fraud, based on . They are increasingly becoming victims of fraudsters. This is one of several reasons why designing a safer living space for an elderly person is a must.

How to Make Home Safe for a Senior

Implement these strategies to achieve aging-in-place security.

1.     Order a home safety assessment

How do you know what safety measures are lacking in your home? By conducting a home safety audit, of course.

According to Shawn Plummer, CEO of , 鈥渙ne of the health insurance plans in the US, namely Medicare Part B, provides coverage for home safety inspections. For some services, however, you might have to pay 20% of the price as a coinsurance fee for this inspection. It is possible to get a home safety evaluation for free during a 鈥榃elcome to Medicare鈥� preventive visit.鈥�

Alternatively, you may hire professionals to assess the safety level of the property. The cost of such a service varies from $150 to $500 depending on the property size and location.

Here鈥檚 a list of companies to consider:

• Age Safe America
• Home of Mine
• Live In Place
• Universal Home Consulting
• LivWell Seniors
• Home Safety Innovations

What if we told you that you can measure the elderly safety level of any home on your own with one single tool? It鈥檚 a rating system developed by Age Friendly Ireland for homeowners and tenants. It can be applied to any type of housing in an urban or rural area. .

2.     Create your aging-in-place checklist (or use a pre-made one)

Below, you can find a common checklist for an elderly-friendly living place with room-by-room safety and home accessibility upgrades:

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A couple of things you may need to think about are pull-out shelves, grabber tools, spill-proof cups, timers on appliances, automatic turn-off devices, plasticware instead of glass, etc.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Bedroom

should include the following: an adjustable bed, a waterproof mattress protector, a bed rail, a bedside fall mat, a medication organizer, etc.

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Consider some essential bathroom improvements for seniors like a right-height toilet, grab bars, non-slip mats, walk-in tub, shower chair, etc.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Living room

To improve home safety for aging in place, look for these items in and around the living room: supportive and sturdy furniture, well-lit pathways, uncluttered floors, lift chairs, transfer aids, stand assist handles, etc.

鈼�&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫;&苍产蝉辫; Corridor and entries

Here, a bench is a must-have to take on and off shoes. You may also need to widen doorways and install ramps to ensure an accessible home for seniors with walkers and wheelchairs.

Generally, some wise home safety solutions for older people are no-slip wax or strips on floors and grab bars in each room.

3.     Do all the necessary repairs and fixes

A broken staircase? Loose floorboards or popped nails in your hardwood floors? These are the most common home problems that increase the possibility of accidents.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also necessary to think beyond the rooms when you aim at making a home safer for seniors,鈥� recommends Tom Nolan, Founder of .

鈥淵ou may need to walk around the house to determine your home improvement needs. It may be a leaking roof, broken windows, clogged gutters, or other outside things that put your home at risk. In some cases, replacing a roof, door, or window is not enough, and you might have to remodel or renovate the house completely,鈥� he adds.

Home renovation projects are quite costly, yet, they are sometimes obligatory. You can finance property improvements with homeowner loans, personal loans, or home remortgaging.

4.     Remove potential hazards

In the , 65% of US adults claimed their parents鈥� homes have at least one potential safety issue.

It is worth noting that falls are a leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for seniors. In fact, every 11 seconds, an older adult in the US is treated in an emergency room for falls.

Additionally, elderly pet owners face a higher risk of fall-related injury. If you are adding a pet to the home, undertake some extra home safety measures. Create a play zone for pets and find a dedicated space for pet toys, as well as feeding and watering accessories, to remove them from walkways.

Let鈥檚 look at some other possible threats to senior safety at home:

• Clutter
• Trip-and-fall items (cords, wires, small rugs, unstable furniture)
• Slippery surfaces (serious health hazards in your bathroom and kitchen due to spilled liquids or grease)
• Breakable things
• Sharp objects (knives, table corners)

Don鈥檛 forget about kitchen safety tips to prevent electrical fires. Kitchen fires kill about 480 people every year.

5.     Take care of proper lighting

鈥淚nstalling adequate lights is an important step for creating a safe home for a senior person,鈥� believes Jesse Galanis, Content Creator at .

鈥淥n the one hand, it reduces obstacles to mobility. On the other hand, you can鈥檛 deny the significance of proper lighting for elderly mental health. It can help seniors foster a pleasant home atmosphere, avoid depressive moods and anxiety, and improve sleep,鈥� he explains.

Yes, it鈥檚 all light. You can easily light your way to a better sleep and mood. Besides, you should understand the lighting needs of aging eyes. As many as aged 65+ have vision loss. As the eye ages, people often experience difficulties focusing on things, adapting from a darker to a brighter space and vice versa, and distinguishing colors.

Upgrade your lighting with these changes in mind: decrease reflections and shadows, make an easy light transition room-to-room, and pick the pleasant room colors (peach, terracotta, gold, brown, light green, or blue).

6.     Increase home safety with smart technologies

Why not make a property more secure with smart home technologies?

Take advantage of these:

• Security cameras
• Automatic door locks and lights
• Panic buttons or Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS)
• Fall detection and glass break sensors
• Fire and flood monitoring technology
• Virtual assistants (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant)

Smart home tech devices are indispensable tools for senior safety. Not to mention that they ease life for older people considerably.

Summarizing Home Safety Tips for the Elderly

The senior household safety strategies discussed in this article can serve as a comprehensive blueprint to create an environment that minimizes risks and maximizes the well-being of the elderly.

By implementing measures such as home safety audits, room-by-room checklists, home repairs, potential threat removal, adequate lighting, and smart home devices, you can age-proof your home and stay on the safest side of the life road.

Let your aging journey be happy and healthy!

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By:  (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids)

It can feel overwhelming trying to keep your child or adolescent safe. Use these seven safety tips for parents to help you feel secure about your child or adolescent鈥檚 safety both in and out of the home.

1. Tech

While advances in technology have created new safety hazards for our children, they have also created new ways for us to keep them safe. Programs like help you monitor your child鈥檚 internet usage in real time and programs like Circle can help you filter what you child is able to see, track their usage, and connect all the family鈥檚 devices to an app on a parent鈥檚 phone.

2. Alcohol & Prescription Drugs

It is important to keep both alcohol and prescription drugs locked up and out of your child鈥檚 reach. Make sure to have conversations about the dangers of abusing alcohol and prescription drugs with your child and ensure that you are modeling proper use of both. Always make sure you are properly disposing of drugs when you no longer need them to ensure that there is no chance of your child finding them.

3. Gun Safety

If there is a gun in the home, it is crucial that proper safety measures are in place. Teach your child that it is never okay to touch the gun. Lock up the gun and ammunition separately and ensure that the gun is only out when it is about to be used. When going to other鈥檚 houses ask if there is a gun onsite and make sure it is locked up before you go over.

4. Safety Around Water

Even if you don鈥檛 have a pool, drowning is still a danger. It is important that there is a sober adult watching kids when they are in the pool, bathtub, and even if they are playing with something like a bucket of water. Having a pool fence is essential to keep your child from accidentally falling into the water when you aren鈥檛 with them and having child locks on anything that is a drowning danger is essential.

5. Fire Safety in the Home

To help prevent fires make sure to never leave candles, fireplaces, or lit stoves unattended, and to keep combustible chemicals locked away. Make sure to talk to your kids about the dangers of fire and as they become old enough to cook, educate them on the importance of fire safety. Also make sure to test your fire alarms every month and have an escape plan in place just in case a fire does occur.

6. Relational Safety

When your kids start talking about relationships make sure to let them know about the dangers of online dating and teach them these tips to help them stay safe. They should never meet up with a complete stranger that they met online and if they do end up going out on a date with someone from a dating app it should always be in a public place in the daytime.

7. Physical Safety

Programs like can allow you to know where each member of your family is and can connect you and your children to resources in the case of an emergency. Technology like alarm systems and camera doorbells can allow you to keep your home and your family safe at all times. Teaching your child self-defense and talking to them about consent can also help keep them safe when they are out on their own.

 (Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization created in 2007 by a group of dedicated mothers who recognized the need to consistently educate families on rapidly changing issues. The MASK mission is to engage and educate parents, children and the community about the issues facing youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices.

MASK helps children learn invaluable life skills for how to cope with a number of issues including responding to peer pressure, dealing with trauma and technology-related challenges. In today鈥檚 viral and social media world, coping skills are more necessary than ever. MASK equips students to feel confident regulating their emotions, maintaining frustration tolerance, and setting healthy boundaries. MASK has served the community for over a decade, with the goal of strengthening parent-child bonds and empowering children to make decisions from a place of knowledge and confidence which will prepare them to thrive.

MASK fulfills its mission by engaging, educating and empowering families through the MASK E3 Institute, MASK The Magazine, an informative website, MASK Live segments through MaskMatters YouTube channel, and the MASKMatters App.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about have to visit the emergency department for an unintentional injury each year. Unfortunately, the CDC also states that injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the US and Canada, too.

Children are curious, easily distracted, and more prone to injury than adults are. So, it鈥檚 important to take extra precautions to keep them safe, even in the home.

Thankfully, most of the accidents mentioned in the CDC鈥檚 research are preventable with the right approaches to safety. Here鈥檚 what you need to know to minimize risks and make your home a safe and hazard-free space for kids.

7 Steps to Make Your Home Safer for Kids

1. Secure Your Windows

You may love your windows for the fresh air and light they let into your home. But alas, they can pose a major danger to your children. Windows present a range of hazards for younger family members, ranging from falling to window cord strangulation, and more.

You can prevent window falls by adding locks and window guards to all windows on the second and third stories of your home. These measures are more effective than window screens, which are designed to keep insects at bay but not to prevent a child from falling. It鈥檚 also recommended that you avoid placing children鈥檚 beds, furniture, cribs, and sofas near windows.

Roller, accordion, or shutter window coverings are the safest options for families with younger kids as they don’t have cords that can cause strangulation. If you have cords, cut them as short as possible, or put them out of reach of your children. You can use a retrofit kit to keep window cords attached to the wall so that your kids cannot play with them or become entangled accidentally.

2. Prevent Unexpected Falls

While windows are a primary falling hazard in the average home, they certainly aren鈥檛 the only one. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in children, so it鈥檚 crucial to improve your home safety and reduce your kids鈥� risk of falling wherever possible.

You can start by adding guards and bumpers to children鈥檚 beds, and, if necessary, select low profile furniture. Use anti-slip maps at the shower and bathtub, and wall-mount safety gates at the tops and bottoms of staircases. Avoid accordion style gates which can trap children鈥檚 necks and heads!

Whenever you place a child in a highchair or another piece of furniture designed specifically for them, use all the safety mechanisms and traps included by the manufacturer. Always keep your eye on them when they are on or near a tall surface in your home and be sure that you are close enough to catch them should they inadvertently fall.

Child Proof the Furniture in Your Home

The sharp edges and hard materials of most pieces of furniture can pose all kinds of unwanted injury risks to children. You can make your home鈥檚 furnishings safe for your kids by taking a few simple steps, starting with anchoring large pieces of furniture like bookshelves and TV stands to the wall. This will prevent them from falling over and onto a playing child if it gets bumped or climbed on.

Next, remove all objects that may tempt your kids to climb tall pieces of furniture and reach high shelves. Store snacks, treats, toys, and books within their reach, or stash these items away in a locked cupboard if necessary. Replace your old box TV with a lighter flat screen model that鈥檚 mounted to a wall or TV stand out of your children鈥檚 reach.

Avoid purchasing glass-top furniture, which can easily break and lead to dangerous lacerations and other emergency injuries. Finally, add edge and corner bumpers to furniture at child height, such as nightstands, coffee tables, and counters, to protect your kids from running into sharp edges.

4. Cover Electrical Outlets

Electric shock is a severe and potentially deadly injury to younger children, and it must be avoided at all costs. This is simple enough to do.

Purchasing and fitting plastic coverings to your electrical outlets will prevent your children from trying to stick utensils, toys, and curious fingers into them. Additionally, take care not to leave power cables plugged in while not being used. If you鈥檙e charging your laptop while or need to charge your phone, don鈥檛 leave these devices, their chargers, and plugs unattended, either.

5. Use Doorknob Covers and Locks

The interior and exterior doors, sliding doors, and cupboard and cabinet doors of your home should all be child proofed. This will protect your kids and prevent them from entering rooms and storage areas in which they could be in danger.

Doorknob locks and covers can bar your kids from opening doors without your knowledge and wandering onto the balcony or into the front yard. It also stops them from entering hazardous areas like a storage closets containing sharp gardening tools or cleaning products.  Locks are also essential in securing the pool area from children and pets.

6. Lock Medication Cabinets

You should always store medication and medical supplies out of reach of children. Kids could easily mistake pills for sweets and ingest them. Store your medications in high-up, locked cabinets and hide the key in a location only you know about.

Never leave your medicine unattended on a surface that your kids can reach, such as a nightstand or kitchen table.

7. Create a Strategically Safe Play Zone

To keep kids entertained and safe during playtime, design a safe and hazard-free play area for them. When setting up their playground equipment, like play sets and trampolines, ensure that these items are far away from walls, trees, power lines, rocks, and other objects and surfaces that could cause harm.

Trampolines are , and should be fenced or netted to reduce accident risks. Keep your trampoline properly maintained and follow all manufacturer safety measures when setting it up.

Some homeowner鈥檚 insurance carriers will cover play sets and trampolines, so check with your insurer to ensure that you have cover for accidents and injuries.

Prevention is the Best Option

It鈥檚 natural to expect your family home to be the safest place for your children, but this isn鈥檛 always the case. It鈥檚 essential to take the right safety precautions to keep your kids safe and prevent avoidable injuries and emergencies.

Take the steps mentioned above to secure hazardous parts of your home and keep your children happy and safe while they play, explore, and grow.

The post How to Make Home a Safer Place When Living with Kids appeared first on Blog | 皇冠体育app.

Smart homes are the next big thing. You may not realize it yet, but somewhere your day will be easier because of it. Smart home technology is not only impacting the homes its installed into. Its reach stretches to other industries like business, science and even health care.

Disruptive Growth

The rapid rate of growth in the smart home industry has an effect on all kinds of industries. The easiest way to track this is to follow the money. In 2018 alone, the US has spent $19.8 billion on smart home technology. This may seem like a low amount compared to the total size of the American Gross Domestic Product. But, keep in mind that smart homes are all about connecting different types of technology. It uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to do this. It鈥檚 estimated that by 2020 IoT will generate revenue exceeding $300 billion. The influential power of that $19 million (spent in 2018) suddenly looks very promising

Home Automation

Smart homes have you in mind. Its very existence is to make your life easier and cheaper. Different products will have differing applications. You can be sure that any room in your house can be automated in some way through this technology.

Smart Kitchens

Smart ovens, smart refrigerators, smart microwaves and the list goes on. You are now able to monitor and control certain functions in your kitchen from your smartphone. You aren鈥檛 alone in the kitchen anymore. Smart kitchens have your back!

Smart Climate Control

You can program your thermostat and air conditioning from an app. Schedule and control these devices through a wireless connection via the internet. Be your own weatherman and decide the climate of your house. Or save unnecessary costs by stopping these units from consuming gas and electricity beyond your budget.

Smart Security

Be the king of your castle as you track monitor and control vulnerable aspects of your home. Use home security systems like smart CCTV, smart locks, smart sensors and alarms to enjoy absolute control over what is yours. Sixty two percent of Americans claim smart security as the top benefit of owning smart homes. Three out of every five Americans who own smart homes will use a smartphone to monitor their houses. Total control is now possible on the go.

Taking the nation at large!

The world is becoming a smaller place, and smarter too. Smart homes have bridged many gaps to make life easier for its owners. America is leading the global charge with 7.5 percent of homes already adopting the technology. In 2022 that number is expected to hit 19.5 percent. Life as you know it is changing every day due to smart homes. Click here to see an detailing the history and changes caused by smart homes.

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If you are spending time and energy moving from one home to another, you probably want to make sure that your possessions do not get damaged in the process. Here are the best tips for keeping your furniture safe while moving.

Have the proper packing supplies

Before you start moving any furniture, you should be sure to have all of the necessary packing materials and supplies. This includes furniture pads, moving blankets, plastic or bubble wrap (for furniture other than wood), foam padding, packing tape, and other items that will help you during the moving process. Purchasing and gathering these materials in advance will make your moving process easier and smoother, and it may also provide you with some peace of mind knowing that you are prepared to protect your furniture.

Clean your furniture prior to moving

You should also prioritize cleaning your furniture prior to moving. Clean off all surfaces, making sure there is no dust, grime, or residue lingering on your furniture. Also be sure that you have cleared off all decorations and other items from your furniture so that everything is ready to be moved. This will ensure that your possessions are in their best shape before the move.

Take pictures

Taking pictures is the perfect way to keep a record of the condition of your furniture prior to your move. If you are hiring a moving service or if others are helping you during the moving process, it is important that you document the condition of your furniture before the move so you can compare the photos to the condition of the furniture after it has been transported to your new home. This way you will know if anything was damaged during transport. Even if you are not hiring movers, it is still helpful to keep a record of your furniture to check the condition of it (or to be sure that everything made it to your new home and nothing was forgotten).

Disassemble your furniture, if possible

If your furniture has the ability to be disassembled, we advise that you do so. It is easier to pack furniture like dining room sets and bed frames once it is disassembled. The tighter and more carefully furniture is packed, the less likely it is to be damaged.

Wrap and pack your furniture safely

As we mentioned before, it is important to be prepared with the proper packing items so that your furniture can be wrapped and packed safely. That means covering everything with the proper padding, packing the furniture tightly in the moving vehicle, and tying large items down so they do not move during transit.

Label your furniture

To minimize confusion post-transit and to prevent furniture from being unnecessarily moved all around your new home, label your furniture according to the area of your home where it belongs.

Use a dolly

It is important to use the proper equipment to move your items so that nothing is damaged and nobody gets injured. When loading, unloading, and moving heavy items, use a dolly and carefully maneuver it to protect yourself and your furniture.

What are your best tips for keeping your furniture safe while moving?

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of 皇冠体育app International. This post was written by Bailee Abell.听Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at聽.听

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With the holiday season approaching, it is highly important to not skimp on security. And if you鈥檙e planning on traveling during the holidays, you should feel some peace of mind knowing your home is safe while you鈥檙e away. Here are our top tips for keeping your home safe as you travel for the holiday season.

Don鈥檛 broadcast your location on social media.

When you鈥檙e planning a vacation, it may be fun to post your plans on your social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram. But social media posts including travel information are green lights for home thieves, as they signal that your home will be unoccupied for a set period of time. Before you leave and while you are away, try to refrain from posting on social media that you are on vacation and your home is unoccupied. If you want to update your social channels, make sure to set your posts to private so your updates can only be seen by people you trust.

Ensure your home is inaccessible from the outside and garage.

Lock the indoor entrance to your house from your garage. If you have a garage break in, make sure the burglar cannot access your house from the garage. Additionally, you should remove all spare keys that you may be hiding outside of your home, especially those in common places such as under the doormat or in a nearby planter.

Secure your valuable possessions.

Even if you have ensured that your home is inaccessible, you can never be too careful with your valuables. You should always secure your most valuable and important possessions in a safe or store them in a locked drawer or room. Additionally, you should make sure your valuable items (such as electronics) cannot be seen through your windows or from anywhere outside your home. Close all blinds and curtains so that nothing can be seen by any intruder attempting to look inside.

Set an alarm.

If you will be leaving your home during the holidays, consider setting an alarm that will notify you, your alarm company and the local police of a break-in. If you already have an alarm system set up at your home, alert your alarm company that you will be out of town so they know that a trip of the alarm is most likely an intruder. If you don鈥檛 have an alarm system, consider installing one before traveling on an extended or long-distance trip.

Don鈥檛 allow deliveries to sit on your doorstep.

Unopened packages sitting on your doorstep are surefire signs that signal to others that nobody is home. If possible, refrain from receiving package deliveries for the duration of your trip, or ask a neighbor to attend to your mail delivery while you are away. If you need deliveries and a neighbor cannot help you, ask your post office to hold your mail for the duration of your trip and consider getting deliveries sent to your office address.

Keep your home safe from adverse weather conditions or fire hazards.

If you live in a colder climate, you should protect your home鈥檚 pipes from freezing by setting your thermostat to 65 degrees for the duration of your trip. Clean your gutters before traveling, as leaves and debris can build up in rain gutters and cause the gutters to be weighed down and break if too much ice collects after a storm. Prevent fire hazards by unplugging all unnecessary electronics and making sure necessary cords are plugged into a surge protector.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of 皇冠体育app International. This post was written by Bailee Abell.听Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at聽.听

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Halloween can be frightfully fun, but nothing can put a damper on the holiday more than becoming the victim of a Halloween prank. Here is how you can make your house prank proof this Halloween season:

Light it up

Keep your porch lights (and even some interior lights) on for the duration of the night, even if you are going out of town. Vandals are less likely to target the home of residents who are at home. Alternatively, consider installing motion sensor lights that activate with any movement. These can be a great investment in the long run, as they allow you to fall asleep while decreasing your electric bill and knowing that your lights can still scare away vandals.

Hide your vehicle

Park your car in the garage instead of on your driveway. If your car is inside, vandals can鈥檛 access it. If you don鈥檛 have access to a garage, consider parking your vehicle behind your home instead of in front, or ask a neighbor if you can borrow their space for the night. Halloween pranksters often egg cars as they drive by.

Pretend you鈥檙e not home

If you don鈥檛 plan on handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, then don鈥檛 answer the door if anyone comes knocking. Answering the door without any candy prepared will give pranksters and bitter trick-or-treaters the green light to retaliate. Keep your windows covered so criminals (or even curious peeping toms) can鈥檛 see inside your home.

Don鈥檛 make yourself a target

Don鈥檛 participate in any pranks. If you have children, be sure to let them know that pranks can be serious crimes, and they are not to discuss or take part in any pranks on others鈥� homes. You and your family shouldn鈥檛 give off the impression that you think pranking is funny.

Out of sight, out of mind

Don鈥檛 leave loose yard decorations or items lying around outside. If it isn鈥檛 secured, then it could possibly be broken or stolen. Also, don鈥檛 leave your pumpkins outside at night. A common Halloween prank is smashing pumpkins outside of people鈥檚 homes. If you keep small possessions and jack-o-lanterns out of sight, then pranksters won鈥檛 think to target your home.

Wash away the pranksters

If you think you may become a target for vandalism, set your sprinklers on a timer to go off at random during the night, or stay alert and turn them on when you hear someone lurking near your home. Vandals wouldn鈥檛 bother targeting a house that has their sprinklers going off. Who would risk getting soaking wet while TP-ing or egging a home?

Host a Driveway Candy Station

If you do want to hand out candy, set up a station in your driveway or on the street/sidewalk outside your home. This will prevent others from walking too close to your home and will allow you to keep an eye out while still having fun and participating in the festivities.

Halloween should be fun, but not too scary. You can still enjoy the holiday without feeling afraid that your home will be at risk of vandalism. Utilize these tips and tricks so your night will be full of treats.

This post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. The point of view and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of 皇冠体育app International. This post was written by Bailee Abell.听Bailee Abell is a writer born and raised in California. A graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, she loves reading classic literature, sipping warm beverages, and visiting theme parks every chance she gets. Find her at聽.听

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If you have small children or pets, you have probably routinely gone through each room in the house looking for any potential dangers. Have you done the same in the garage? These are some of the most common dangers and how you can avoid them.

Carbon Monoxide and fire risk

Most homes come with fire and carbon monoxide detectors on the inside. If you also have a garage, this area should also have its own detectors. With many people parking their vehicles and other gas fueled machines in the garage, there is actually a greater risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning here. You can prevent this by installing a detector in your garage and . You can also reduce the possibility of Carbon Monoxide in your vehicle with routine inspections to the exhaust system. It is also important to avoid running your vehicle in a closed garage for a long period of time.

Chemical products

The garage is the preferred storage location for most chemical products. If you are going to use your garage to store pesticides, antifreeze, and paint products; proper storage is necessary. Always keep these potentially hazardous products in their original containers and ensure that they are sealed tightly. Keep the products in a securely closed cabinet or storage device to prevent children or pets from getting into them. If a product cannot be stored tightly, it should be properly disposed of.

Propane and gas storage

Safely storing propane and gas can be difficult, especially in the garage. Gas should always be stored in an approved container and should be kept at least 50 feet away from ignition sources and pilot lights. Gas containers should also be securely locked away from children and pets.听A can reduce the risk of stored fuel. Never store propane or fuel inside of your home.

Power tools

The garage seems like the perfect place to store your tools. However, improper storage of power tools can be harmful to both the tools and your home鈥檚 safety. Leaving tools lying around can be especially dangerous. Invest in a good organization system that will also increase the safety of these tools. Cover all electrical outlets with childproof covers and use drawer latches. Store the power supply to tools separately from the tool itself and leave all standalone tools in a carefully secured toolbox.

Garage doors

Your garage door can potentially be one of the most dangerous parts of your garage. It is important to routinely for safety.听When you move into a new home, a thorough inspection of the garage door should be a part of the process. A garage door is extremely heavy and could be very damaging should it come off of its track. Regularly check the garage door for squeaking and grinding. Apply lubrication often to the garage door tracks. Check the tightness of the nuts and bolts. If the garage suffers any damage, such as a dent; schedule a professional inspection or repair immediately.

The garage often gets overlooked when it comes to home safety and preparation. Take the same safety precautions in the garage as you would with the rest of your home. Pay special attention to fire and carbon monoxide risks, the proper storage of chemical products, fuel, and tools, and ensure that the garage door is in good working condition.

This post was written for 皇冠体育app by Heather Hardy. Heather is an avid writer who has contributed to numerous blogs and internet news sources. 聽While she writes on a variety of topics, her specialties include real estate, home improvement, and travel. After obtaining two degrees, Heather has found her passion in writing content that improves both readability and knowledge.

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You鈥檝e found your new home and are thrilled with the anticipation of moving in. You鈥檝e got ideas about decorating, landscaping, and furnishing your new home to your exact specifications, but what about childproofing?

罢丑别听 reports that each year about 9.2 million children sustain an accidental injury resulting in a trip to the emergency room, with an additional 7,300 dying from preventable injury. Taking steps to childproof your home will ensure that the whole family can enjoy it safely.

Childproofing inside your home

Your child experiences the world from a vastly different perspective than you do 鈥� namely, from a much lower height. Getting down on your hands and knees and investigating from that vantage point will give you a better idea of dangers below knee-level.

In the kitchen and bathroom, this may be cleaning solutions or appliances with cords. Move them to higher ground or install. Replace electrical outlet panels with those that slide over outlets when not in use. Install childproof clamps on your toilets so a curious toddler can鈥檛 climb or topple in, and make sure all medications are locked up, out of reach, or have childproof caps.

Around your living room and bedrooms, install bumpers on sharp corners of tables or chairs 鈥� this could be as simple as wrapping them in foam rubber and securing with packaging tape. Check your taller furniture, such as armoires and TV cabinets, for stability. Make sure they can鈥檛 be pulled down by an unsteady toddler learning to walk. Bolt heavy furniture like bookcases and headboards to walls whenever possible, and use electrical tape to tamp down and secure any extension cords running along the floor.

If you have floor lamps, consider storing them until your child is steady enough on their feet to be able to navigate around them. Lamps, plants, and knickknacks should all be secured or removed. If you have curtains or blinds with long cords, tie them up out of reach. Infants and toddlers can become entangled in curtain cords and blinds. Avoid placing your baby鈥檚 crib near a window, and install locks on any window that can be opened.

In your laundry room, secure washer and dryer machine lids so a child can鈥檛 climb in and become trapped. Place detergents, bleaches, and solutions out of reach of curious hands and mouths.

If there are parts of the house you don鈥檛 want your child to access, a closed door is safer and more secure than a gate. If you do buy a baby gate, make sure it鈥檚 certified by the聽, keeping your child鈥檚 stage of development in mind. A gate that screws into the wall is the most secure option, as tension gates might work to contain a crawler but become a hazard when your baby starts climbing and walking.

Childproofing outside your home

Examine the exterior of your house for the same pitfalls as its interior 鈥� accessible outlets, unsteady furniture, sharp corners, cords, lines, or hoses that could cause injury. If your home comes with a pool or hot tub, install a locking cover, childproof pool fencing, or a fixed gate that prevents child access to the area. Fortify balcony and deck railings, and shore up spaces between slats that your child could squeeze through or get a head or other body part stuck in.

If you have landscaping or a backyard garden, make sure your plants and flowers are not聽 聽In the garage or carport, keep chemicals and paint on high counters or in secured lockers, or prevent access to these areas altogether. 聽

Have an expert childproof your home

If you have the means, you can hire someone to childproof your house for you. 罢丑别听 maintains a database of Child Safety Consultants and can connect you with a professionally certified child safety expert in your area. 聽聽

When it comes to staying safe, your vigilance is your child鈥檚 best protection. By taking the time to childproof your home and implement these safety measures, the space should be more secure for all residents and visitors to the home.

This post was written for 皇冠体育app by Estelle Weber, a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. You can read more of her work .

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