Back-to-School Safety Tips from Security Solutions—Washington Security Specialists

Today, when parents refer to school safety, they’re typically talking about bullying and other forms of school violence. Thanks to heightened Washington security protocols and CCTV in Washington schools, violence of this regard is down considerably, but studies show that children are nine times more likely to suffer an unintentional injury while at school or on the playground than they are of becoming the victim of school violence. In fact, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign, more than two million children under the age of 14 are injured in accidents while at school every single year.

Fortunately, with proper education and procedures, most of these accidents can easily be avoided. In an effort to keep your kids as safe as possible this school year, here are some valuable safety tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Safe Kids Campaign.

Traveling to and from School

• If your child is walking to school, plan the safest and most direct route. If possible, try to choose a route with the fewest street crossings.
• Walk the route a couple of times with your child before the first day of school.
• Of course, educate your child on the dangers of talking or accepting gifts from strangers.
• If your child is walking to school, try to have him or her accompanied by a friend, sibling or neighbor.
• When driving your kids to school, try to drop them off and pick them up as close to the main entrance as possible. As an added precaution, don’t leave until they reach the schoolyard or enter the building.
• If your child rides a bike to school, make sure that they wear a helmet.
• If taking the bus, teach your child to stay out of the street and wait for the bus to stop completely before approaching the street.
• When on the bus, remind your child to keep his arms and head inside the bus. When exiting the bus, your child should wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before standing up, exit the bus at the front and cross the street more than 10 feet from the front of the bus.
• Finally, make sure your child knows his or her home address and phone number, your work number and how to call 911 in case of an emergency.

On the Playground

• The majority of the two million school-related accidents that occur each year take place on the playground. Therefore, before the start of the school year, you should check the playground equipment and ensure that there is no broken equipment and the surface surrounding the equipment cannot be hazardous.
• It may be cold in the winter and hoodies may be popular at the moment, but you should try to avoid clothing your child in sweatshirts or jackets that have drawstrings around the neck. Also, to avoid getting tangled in playground equipment, drawstrings hanging at the bottom of jackets should be no longer than three inches long.
• Teach your child the safe way to behave on the playground, which includes not crowding, pushing and shoving their fellow classmates.

Between back-to-school shopping and arranging after-school care, safety may be the last thing on your mind. Sure, with CCTV in Washington schools, violence may be decreasing, but millions of children get hurt at or on their way to school each year. So, other than having a home surveillance system installed by Washington security professionals like Security Solutions, educating your child on proper safety procedures is the best way to ensure their safety while traveling to school or on school grounds. By following these valuable tips, your child can have a safe and happy school year.

What Small Businesses Need to Know About Washington Security

Nowadays, businesses need more than the traditional chains and locks to protect themselves. Because criminals are more sophisticated, all businesses could benefit from the services provided by a Washington security company, which can help businesses manage modern-day risks.

As in other states, in the state of Washington, security must be a top priority. A commercial security company is capable of protecting your place of business and giving you peace of mind. In contracting with a commercial security company, business owners will receive support during the installation process as well as when maintenance and repairs are needed.

In order to keep your business safe, the security company uses the most advanced technologies. Commercial security systems are highly sophisticated systems, which protect your entire business space through a centralized unit.

At one time, CCTV in Washington was all the security one needed to make sure things ran smoothly inside the business establishment. Today, tougher times call for much tougher measures. Consequently, alarm and detection systems are needed in business establishments as well. The good news about these commercial systems is they have several models to choose from. This means that no matter how large or small your business and no matter what type of protection you need, you can always find the perfect commercial security system.

For the average business, CCTV in Washington and security alarms will do. However, even some smaller business owners choose a more sophisticated system of protection. This might include motion detectors that sense any type of movement in specific areas of the business both inside and outside. Motion detectors are commonly found in larger businesses such as malls and banks, since they need top-notch security.

As for burglar alarms, there are now plenty of silent alarms that are activated with just the touch of a button. You can also have your security system alert the local police department immediately if a break-in or burglary occurs. This is automatically set up with the alarm company, so if you are not in the building when something happens, the police are still notified. You can also keep an eye on your business through various security cameras that are accessed through your personal computer, cell phone or tablet. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can always keep an eye on your business and make sure that things are operating smoothly.

All businesses should carefully consider their Washington security needs, but small businesses in particular should weigh the pros and cons of purchasing professional security services. Though it may seem like an unnecessary expense, consider the cost of recovering from unexpected losses.

Washington Security Company Helps Explain Summer's Sizzling Crime Rates

Summertime is the most anticipated season of the year. Children are out of school, swimming pools offer relief from the rising temperatures, and families finally have time to bond on getaways and excursions. But with rising temperatures also comes rising crime rates. In fact, police departments throughout the nation urge citizens to be vigilant and use common sense throughout the summer months when both violent and non-violent property crime rates skyrocket. According to statistics from the prior years, homeowners, car owners, and citizens are all at a greater risk of becoming the victim of an assault, a robbery, or even a homicide during the hottest and most anticipated season of the year. If you are wondering why such a fun time has become a time for criminals to run rampant, here is a straightforward explanation from an experienced and respected Washington security company.

School's Out For Summer

Most people are familiar with the song, but what you may not realize is that when school's out for summer, there is a lot of time for mischief. While the crime rates are higher in every category, police officials acknowledge that the most common type of crimes committed in the summer are vandalism and robbery. School-aged kids are to blame for some of these property crimes, but seasoned criminals are also aware of the fact that getting away with valuables is much easier during the summer heat.

Why Is There Easier Access?

With summer comes heat, and when it is hot, it is common for homeowners and vehicle owners to crack their windows or leave their doors open in an effort to improve airflow in a space. Thieves with experience know that it is common for homeowners to leave their windows open to reduce cooling costs during the nighttime hours. They also know how to get past flimsy screen locks without so much as making a noise. With easy access comes more stolen valuables, more vandalism and more crime as a whole.

Why Home Security is Important

You may be wondering how you can combat crime before you become one of the long list of victims that are making police reports in Seattle each summer season. While there is no full-proof way to avoid becoming a target, there is a way to deter would-be vandals and criminals by working with a home security Seattle expert. Here are some tips you can use to your advantage as the heat and the crime rates in Washington continue to rise:

Only leave windows open on the second level. First-level windows give intruders easy access.

Ask neighbors to keep an eye on your home during the day or while you are on vacation.

If you have children, get them involved in an activity, so they do not participate in mischief.

Pay attention to your surroundings and report suspicious activity.

Do not leave valuables visible through the windows of your cars or in your home.

Invest in a home security system that is monitored by a reputable and local Washington security company.

The FBI has done a lot of research on crime rates in the summer, and they have found that the heat is to blame for a 10 percent rise in crime. While there are a number of causes, frustration, substance abuse and chemical changes due to heat all play a role in why criminals prefer to strike in the heat. Take notice of the problem, deter the criminals with help from a team of home security Seattle experts and stay safe.​

A Washington Security Company Offers Tips on Protecting Your Home While on Vacation

Homeowners leaving to take the family on vacation mull over whether or not they locked the front door or left the light on in the living room as everyone heads on down the road. However, there is more to protecting your home while away on vacation. In addition to the basic tips of having someone keep the lawn mowed or the snow shoveled, our Washington security experts at Security Solutions share their best advice for keeping your home safe while on vacation.

1. Stop the Mail and Newspaper Deliveries

An overstuffed mailbox and newspapers piling up on the porch are beacons to burglars signaling instantly that no one is home. Putting a hold on mail delivery as well as any other deliveries that routinely come to the house is a standard trick most homeowners already do before leaving. However, our experts in home security in Seattle recommend having someone you trust pick up the mail, the paper and any packages that may be delivered while the family is away on vacation. This way, neither the paper delivery person nor anyone at the post office is aware that the house is empty. This also means that the house will be visited every day it sits empty.

2. Effective Use of Timers

Any criminal worth his or her salt is going to be looking for patterns. Most can readily identify senseless use of light timers. Instead of just randomly picking a time for a timer to turn a light off and on, think about normal routines in the house. What gets shut off as everyone goes to bed? Typically, the living room lights and TVs are on until bedtime. Then a light goes on in an upstairs bedroom and bathroom for a time. Then the last light to go out is often the one next to the bed. Also consider what is on during the day. Since most televisions are not compatible with programmable timers, use a portable radio instead.

3. Managing the Drapes

Some homes always have the window shades, blinds or drapes closed. Other homes may open them during the day and close them at night. Deviation from the routine is a red flag that gets noticed by both good and bad people. Your good neighbors will notice any break from a routine just the same as you would notice a change in their routines. Any neighbors who are interested in stealing what is in your home will notice too. If the drapes are going to be closed while away on vacation, begin by closing them a couple of weeks before departure while everyone is still at home.

4. Lock Everything That Has a Lock

This includes the garage door as well as the door from the garage into the home. Most homes have locks on bedroom and bathroom doors that can be locked from the outside using a small screwdriver inserted through the tiny hole in the handle. Make it inconvenient for anyone who may enter the home to get around. Lock every window too.

5. Dealing With Appliances That Use Water

Since the clothes washer uses rubber hoses as water inlets, it is not a bad idea to shut off the water supply to the washer before leaving. The hoses on clothes washers can burst much more easily than metal pipes. Also, if there is a toilet in the house that has a leaky tank valve, shut off the water to it to prevent it from running nonstop while no one is home.

6. Monitored Home Security

Having a system installed that provides 24-hour monitored home security in Seattle is a great way to protect any home. Home alarm systems deter burglars, and the systems also automatically alert the monitoring center of any emergency condition. Sensors installed in your home by our Washington security experts detect intrusion, smoke, fire and carbon monoxide. We also have specialty sensors to detect movement, breaking glass, temperature extremes and even flooding. So, even though no one is at home, the home security system is guarding everything.

Every family wants to protect their home whether they are there every day or away on vacation. Following some simple protocols can prevent a home from being targeted while a family is away on vacation. A home security system will be there every day no matter if family members are asleep in their own beds or a thousand miles away enjoying a tropical paradise vacation.

Advice from a Washington Security Company: Avoiding Fires During Peak Grilling Season

Security Solutions, a full-service company providing state-of-the-art home security in Seattle, wants to help keep you safe this summer from grilling fires. Statistically, home fires started by grills average out to a little over 1,400 per year. Outdoor grilling is supposed to be both a fun and delicious time shared with family and friends, not a time to call the local fire department. Here are some tips from our Washington security specialists to help keep you safe in grilling season.

Grill Placement

Fires that consume more than the grill are most often due to grill placement. All propane and charcoal grills are designed for outdoor use only, but proper placement of grills helps to protect homes from fires. Most people place that shiny new grill on a wooden deck up against the perimeter railings or close to a wall of the house. A propane or charcoal grill of any size is capable of creating enough radiant heat to catch nearby combustibles on fire.

Also, to avoid grilling in the hot sun or rain, many place a grill under the roof of a porch or deck. Vinyl siding and vinyl ceiling covering materials are found on many homes. This material cannot take the heat of a grill that is in close proximity. The vinyl begins to deform, and then will turn into a hot liquid that eventually catches fire. Dry deck railings, nearby lawn furniture and other items are also a problem.

Read and heed the manufacturer's instructions on how far the grill must be kept from combustible materials. Ideally, a grill should be placed on a concrete pad with nothing above or around it on all sides. This includes tree branches that can burn if the grill itself catches fire.

Things Never to Do When Grilling

Never use gasoline to light a charcoal grill.

Never light a dirty grill.

Never leave a lit grill unattended.

Never dump out charcoal that is still hot.

Never attempt to light a grill that is leaking propane.

Never let children or pets near a grill.

Never use a grill indoors.

Never squirt charcoal lighter fluid onto hot coals.

Fire Prevention, Protection and Early Warning

Grills are not the only home fire hazard, especially during the summer months. Many homes now use fire pits of both the permanently installed and portable varieties. Summer also includes the Fourth of July holiday and even though personal fireworks are illegal in Washington, there are still many incidents of home fires caused by them. A still burning bottle rocket or Roman candle landing on a combustible surface can start a home fire blocks away from where it was launched.

Following common sense fire safety rules is the first step in prevention. However, even the best safety measures may not be enough. The next level of protection is a fire extinguisher. When grilling, always keep a spray bottle filled with water to extinguish tiny flare ups. You should also keep a 10-pound or larger dry-chemical fire extinguisher nearby.

Early warning is the next level of protection, and it comes from having round-the-clock monitored home security in Seattle. As your Seattle, Washington security specialists, we install residential alarm systems to protect your home and family not only during the summer grilling season but year-round.

Fire Prevention Plays Integral Role in Washington Security

Fire prevention should be synonymous with home security in Seattle because it is the most prevalent form of financial damages and loss of life in residential structures. The state of Washington has made great strides in laws, regulations and fire codes, but many people remain unprotected in homes that that have inadequate fire prevention and detection measures in place.

Seven People Die Daily in House Fires

Recently, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) introduced new statistics that emphasize the need for better fire prevention and detection in homes. According to the NFPA’s report, seven people die every day in a house fire. In addition, those fires account for more than one billion dollars in damages, and in a majority of them, there is no smoke alarm present or the smoke alarm is not operational.

Protecting Your Home

The first step in protecting your home is to have a working, tested smoke alarm at each level of the home, including the attic and the basement. An optimal layout will have dedicated alarms in attached garages, kitchens and bedroom areas. Ideally, a Washington security firm will monitor those smoke alarms around the clock. Without monitoring, you rely on the residents being able to hear and react to the alarm, which isn’t always possible.

Monthly Inspections

The next step is to review your home every month. Home security in Seattle may take care of the testing for you, but if not, you should test the device and check the battery level. It is also important to examine ignition zones inside and outside the home. Inside, common ignition zones include damaged electrical outlets and frayed wires. Outside, common ignition zones include the roof and the area directly around the base of the home.

Cooking Dangers

The NFPA report indicates that cooking is the most likely cause of residential fires. What usually happens is that someone leaves a stove or other appliance on and unattended and then forgets about it. To avoid such an accident, establish a rule that you turn off any appliance when you leave the kitchen. Brief loss of heat isn’t going to ruin a meal, and if you forget, it’s better to lose the meal than start a fire.

Smoking Dangers

The NFPA report also indicates that smoking is the leading cause of fire-related death. The best solution is to ban smoking in the home. If you need a smoking area, designate one outdoors. Preferably, it should be at least three feet away from the home or any nonflammable items. If that isn’t possible, have a Washington security firm come in, secure the area and install an external smoke detector.

Security Solutions

If you’re a homeowner in need of fire and home security in Seattle, then contact Security Solutions, Bellingham Lock & Safe. Security Solutions is a leading Washington security firm that has been in business since 1904. Since 1971, it has been a leader in electronic security solutions, and it specializes in developing security plans that are uniquely suited to the client and his or her residential space. For more information, please visit www.ssnw.co.

Leading Lock Security in Washington by Security Solutions

Security Solutions: Bellingham Lock & Safe is one of the leading Washington security companies and has a long and rich history. In fact, the locksmith aspect of the business dates back to 1904 and played an important role in the formation of Bellingham. Today, Security Solutions is a high-tech security provider, but it still offers a wide range of locksmith services, including:

Hardware Installed & Repaired

Basic lock hardware plays a crucial role in security in Washington, and Security Solutions has more than 100 years of experience. Services include repairing, replacing and upgrading the locks and other hardware for doors, windows and other access points. Security Solutions can also perform a security appraisal of your doors and install deadbolts that provide real security.

Door Locks Rekeyed

If you’ve misplaced a key for your home or business or fear that someone could have copied the key, then a rekeying service is the most cost-effective way to ensure security. Washington security companies like Security Solutions can rekey installed locks or install locks that use keys that cannot be copied.

Automotive Keys and Transponders

Automotive security in Washington is also an important consideration, and Security Solutions provides a full range of automotive key services. Their most common service is unlocking a car door for people who have accidentally locked themselves out. Other services offered include repairing locks, upgrading locks and replacing or acquiring additional transponder car keys.

Decorative Home Hardware

Security Solutions also specializes in both modern and antique decorative home hardware. In Bellingham and the surrounding areas, many homes have hardware that is no longer readily available. Bellingham Lock & Safe, however, can acquire these pieces or upgrade them without significant changes to doors and windows. Security Solutions can also ensure that antique hardware provides modern security while still looking classic and beautiful.

High Security Locks

Security Solutions installs both Medeco and Mul-T-Lock high-security locks, which are the most popular and effective brands used by Washington security companies today. Medeco is made in the USA, and Mul-T-Lock is manufactured to international standards. Both brands provide superior protection and are resistant to picking, drill attacks, bump keying and key copying.

Keyless Entry Locks

A growing trend in residential security in Washington is the keyless lock. Electronic keyless locks can be as simple as a keypad or include remote capabilities that are accessed from a remote device or even a smartphone app. These locks are secure, convenient to use and they make lockouts a thing of the past. You no longer have to keep a key under the flowerpot or break a window to get in.

Safes Sold, Serviced & Opened

Security Solutions sells a wide range of safes, including gun safes, and can custom-order safes. In the event of a lockout or malfunction, their technicians can repair and open any safe. For high-quality safes, Security Solutions also offers service agreements to ensure that the safe remains in peak condition.

Locking Mailboxes

The average homeowner tends to think of identity theft as a high-tech affair, but most identify theft happens due to information stolen from a mailbox or the trash. For this reason, USPS-approved locking mailboxes have become a very popular trend in this area. Security Solutions can install the unit in the ground or simply replace the current mailbox on existing hardware.

Whether you need locksmith or security system services for your home or business in Seattle, Bellingham, Mt.Vernon or surrounding areas, please visit www.ssnw.co for information.