Keep the season merry: Find tips to ensure safety during the holidays

Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas parties, and spending precious moments with family are some of the activities we look forward to during the holidays. It’s a time for celebration, but the season has an increased number of safety risks. Fortunately, adhering to some basic guidelines and using a modern security system at your Tuscaloosa property can help ensure safety during the holidays.

Are you traveling? Prevent break-ins at your Tuscaloosa home with advanced video cameras and automation

Going to spend time with relatives is an important aspect of the holidays, but leaving your Tuscaloosa home unoccupied increases the risk of intrusions. But there is an answer. Modern home security systems let you watch over your home no matter your whereabouts with the latest surveillance. You may view real-time streams from your cameras with the smart home app on your mobile device.

Top surveillance tools can actively defend your home from thieves. If a person comes within range, cameras will use audible and visible warnings to frighten them away. Here are a few more ways you can avoid intrustions when you’re traveling: 

• Program lights to come on at different moments to make your home seem inhabited
• Confirm that your home security yard sign is in clear view
• Check to confirm doors are locked and your system is armed through the smartphone app
• Don’t broadcast on social media that you’re going out of town

Protect against holiday porch pirates in Tuscaloosa

For numerous families, the holidays bring a steady wave of packages to your front door. Avoid enticing opportunistic criminals by letting them sit on your porch. Rather, receive an automatic update to your smartphone whenever a package appears so you are reminded to collect it. 

If possible, plan deliveries for when you’ll be present. When that’s not possible, see if a neighbor can collect them. You can turn off your alarm and open your door from your mobile device. If a person is knocking on your door, you can talk to them via your video doorbell’s two-way talk function. 

Practice proper fire safety during the holidays in your Tuscaloosa home 

Christmas trees, candles, string lights, and home-cooked meals are a part of the holidays, but they also put you at risk for fires. Here are some tips for how to circumvent them:

• Kitchen fires escalate during the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving. Avoid turning your back on a crowded stovetop. Keep little ones at a distance to protect against burns. Remember to adhere to manufacturer directions when operating fryers.
• Keep Christmas trees watered and a safe distance from fireplaces and candles. Be mindful that trees become more combustible as they dehydrate.
• Don’t overwhelm electrical outlets with extension cords and lights. Loose connections and older outlets are prone to sparks and may cause fires.
• Lit candles are beautiful but also hazardous around trees and decorations. Place them carefully and always blow out flames when stepping out of a room.

Monitored fire alarms are an excellent way to upgrade your protection. When safety devices like fire alarms and CO detectors connect to your property’s security, you and your dedicated monitoring specialists will be notified when an alarm goes off, whether you’re home or away.

Remain safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in Tuscaloosa

Discover all the equipment you need to remain safe during the holidays and all year round from Vivint. Our Tuscaloosa smart security systems include innovative features like cameras with active deterrence, custom automation, and monitored fire alarms. Reach us at (205) 964-9849 and give your loved ones the gift of better security this holiday season.