Keep the season full of cheer: Discover tips to boost safety during the holidays
Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, and enjoying quality time with family members are some of the things we cherish over the holidays. It’s a time for celebration, but the season has more safety risks. Luckily, adhering to some basic tips and using a well-equipped security system at your West Palm Beach residence can improve safety during the holidays.
Leaving town? Prevent intrusions at your West Palm Beach home with advanced video cameras and automation
Traveling to visit relatives is a holiday custom, but leaving your West Palm Beach home unoccupied increases the threat of break-ins. But there is a way to reduce the risk. Modern home security systems let you monitor your property no matter your location with innovative surveillance. You are able to view live feeds from your cameras through the smart home app on your cell phone.
Leading surveillance tools can actively safeguard your home from thieves. If an individual gets within range, cameras will beam a light or emit a sound to frighten them away. Here are some additional ways you can prevent invasions when you’re traveling:
- Schedule lights to turn on at various times to make your home look inhabited
- Confirm that your home security signage is noticeable
- Check to verify doors are secured and your system is armed through the home security app
- Don’t announce on social platforms that you’re leaving town
Defend against seasonal porch pirates in West Palm Beach
For countless families, the holidays mean a constant stream of packages to your front door. Don’t entice thieves by allowing them to sit outside. Instead, receive an immediate alert to your phone whenever a delivery appears so you know to grab it.
If possible, plan deliveries for when you’re home. Alternatively, see if a neighbor can take them in. You can open your door and temporarily turn off your alarm from your mobile device. If someone is at your door, you can communicate with them with your doorbell camera’s 2-way talk function.
Adhere to accepted fire safety during the holidays in your West Palm Beach home
Christmas trees, candles, decorative lights, and home-cooked meals are popular during the holidays, but they also put you at risk for fires. Here are some tips on how to circumvent them:
- Cooking fires escalate during the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. Maintain a close watch of an active stovetop. Keep kids at a distance to avoid burns. Always follow manufacturer instructions when operating fryers.
- Hydrate Christmas trees and keep them away from fireplaces and candles. Remember that trees grow more combustible as they dehydrate.
- Avoid overtaxing electrical outlets with excessive lights and cords. Improper connections and damaged outlets are at risk of sparking and may cause fires.
- Glowing candles are enchanting but also hazardous around trees and decorations. Use them wisely and always extinguish flames when leaving a space.
Monitored fire alarms are an excellent way to upgrade your protection. When environmental sensors like fire alarms and CO detectors integrate with your home’s security, you and your 24-7 monitoring agents will know when an alarm sounds, whether you’re on site or away.
Stay safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in West Palm Beach
Get all the tools you need to stay safe during the holidays and all year long from Vivint. Our West Palm Beach smart homes give you modern features like cameras with active deterrence, custom automation, and monitored fire alarms. Reach us at (561) 556-7696 and give your household the gift of better security this season.