Age Guidelines for Staying Home Alone
When Are Kids Old Enough to Stay Home Alone? Age guidelines for staying home alone, is a very gray area for most people. Just because Macaulay Culkin who was eight years old at the time was able to stay home alone in the hit 1990 movie Home Alone, doesn’t mean that it is the right thing to do. Each state has their own laws about the appropriate ages to be left at home without supervision. The child’s age and their maturity also play a huge part in whether or not they can stay home solo. Basically, it comes down to discretion and the law. Home Alone with Home Security First, you want to have good home security in place to ensure your child has extra protection. If something goes wrong, the authorities can be alerted. This will give you added peace of mind. There are also many guidelines that you as a parent should follow if you are thinking about leaving your children at home by themselves: Age of the child Maturity level of the child The length of time the child will be home unsupervised Are other children being left home with your child The safety of the neighborhood Are there neighbors that can check in on the child Does the child feel safe staying home by themselves? Guidelines considering the age range for leaving a child home alone: 7 & Under: children that are seven years old and under should never be left alone at home for any length of time. This also includes never leaving them unattended in the car, at a playground, or the backyard. 8 to 10 years old: Children that are 8 to 10 years old can be left home only during daylight and early evening hours but only for no more then 1.5 hours. 11 to 12 years old: Children that are 11 to 12 years old can be left home for no more than 3 hours at a time and not overnight. 13 to 15 years old: Children that are 13 to 15 years old can be unsupervised for long periods of time but not overnight. 16 to 17 years old: Children that are 16 to 17 years old can be unsupervised and can stay home overnight up to two nights alone. Keep Your Family Secure Through a Rochester Home Security Company If you have children that are age appropriate and are ready to stay home alone consider contacting SPS Fire and Security at 585-770-0348 to learn about a security alarm that would be right for your home.
Fireplace Safety in the Winter
Tips for Safe Fireplace Use Many individuals buy a house with the added feature of a fireplace or buy a house with the intentions of putting a fireplace in. When getting a fireplace installed in your home, there are many things that you as a homeowner should think about, especially if you have small children in the house. There are many fireplace safety tips to consider: Your fireplace should be installed professionally. Every year before using your fireplace, you should hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney. As a homeowner, you should make sure that your home has the right smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure that each detector works properly and has new batteries. When owning a fireplace, you should make sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby. Never place any kind of material close to the fireplace. Flammable materials should be three or more feet from the fire. If there are pets or small children in the house, you might want to consider getting a gate to put around the fire place. Never burn anything that could cause the fire to get out of hand. Don’t burn trash, Styrofoam or plastic. Burning these things could lead to your fire getting out of control and becoming dangerous. Never use flammable liquids to get your fire started. There are fire starting logs that can help with getting your fire started easier. Also make sure you have a fire alarm installed in case the fire does get out of control when you are not in the room. You and your family can be alerted immediately and the fire department called so the fire can be taken care of as quickly as possible. Contact Your Fire Safety and Home Security Company For more information or questions regarding your fireplace or need to have smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors installed in your house, you can contact SPS security and Fire at 585-770-0348.
Why Professional Monitoring Is Best in Wireless Home Security
Benefits of 24/7 Security Monitoring Wireless home security systems are in homes throughout Rochester and they are professionally monitored. This is all part of the evolution of the security system, although that evolution has taken a very long time. Here are some of the milestones that have happened in the world of home security: Wireless sensors have allowed for faster installation, more sensors, and many more benefits. Smartphone monitoring allows homeowners to monitor their security systems no matter where they are in the world as long as they have a wireless signal. The system can be armed and disarmed. Everything is included in an app. In-home video surveillance allows you to have cameras added inside and out so you can keep an eye on things while you are at home and even while you are away. Home automation takes things one step further, allowing you to operate things as simple as the thermostat or a light switch using a smartphone. But the big one here is the monitoring that you can do on your own. Some homeowners feel that they should invest in a system that allows them to monitor so they can forgo the professional monitoring. However, professional security monitoring matters A LOT. Professional Security Monitoring Services Monitoring matters because you need the authorities to be contacted immediately if someone breaks into your home. Imagine being at work where you can’t use your smartphone and someone breaks into your home. You won’t know that the alarm was triggered until it’s too late. With professional monitoring, you have fire monitoring, carbon monoxide monitoring, and burglar alarm monitoring. You have three different types of safety monitoring in one service. Problems with Monitoring-It-Yourself Aside from being in a position where you can’t monitor your smartphone at all times, here are some other issues: The internet is key. Without it, you have no way to monitor your security system. If you are on a plane, traveling in an area with no cellular signal, or you are working and can’t use your phone, your home is wide open to a burglar. You may not get the signal. If you do, it is up to you to contact the police or fire department. If you’re out of town, you can’t call 911 because you will dial into the 911 local to the area you are in and not your own 911. If you are close to a county that is served by another 911 office, you risk being relayed to that one rather than your own county 911 office. Overall, professional monitoring works, which is why you need a home security system that has it as an option. It’s the gold standard for home security because they are always keeping an eye on things so you don’t have to worry. You don’t have to panic if you lose your cellular signal or if you are in another situation where you can’t get notifications from your phone. The Glory of Wireless Security Systems And, of course, we can’t forget the fact that these security systems can be wireless. This means no wires being tucked away in strange places and the installation can be much faster. Between that and the professional monitoring service that gives you peace of mind and security, you have a winning combination when it comes to maintaining the safety of you, your home, and everything that you have worked for. Contact Your Rochester Wireless Home Security Installer If you are curious about wireless systems and professional monitoring services or you are ready to take the plunge toward better home security, call SPS Fire & Security today at 585-770-0348.
Access Control Systems for Gym Safety
Enhanced Gym Security Systems It is already February and so many individuals made a resolution at the beginning of the year to start going to the gym to get healthier and in better physical shape. If you are looking into getting a gym membership, you will see that there are many gyms that are starting to move their hours from set times to 24 hours. By going to 24 hours, gyms are able to use the 24/7 gym access control security system. This system allows individuals with a membership badge to easily swipe and gain access to the gym at any time of the day or night. Many individuals, if lucky, will be able to go to the gym after work if they work into the middle of the night or early in the morning before the sun comes up. With many gyms being able to buy and use this easy system, it gives members peace of mind that they are entering a secure place. Protecting Your Belongings Listed below are some safety tips for keeping your personal belongings safe while at the gym: You should never bring too many personal items that you don’t need to the gym. Never bring your wallet with all your personal cards into the gym. Only bring the membership card or drivers’ license, car keys, locker key and maybe a phone. If you choose to use a locker, make sure that you choose a locker that is in the middle of high tracked area or where there are security cameras. That way if anything does happen or things are missing, it will be easier to track or ask someone. If you choose to use a locker, then choose a lock that is strong and heavy so that it is hard to break. Don’t give your key out or make a copy of the key. Pick a time of the day or night that is comfortable for you but at the same time many gym members there. Know your gym’s surroundings so that you can be safe during your workout time. Contact Your Rochester Access Control Installer Knowing your gym lets you have a fun safe time working out. If you a are a member of a gym that could use a security system or could use an update on their system contact SPS Fire and Security at 585-770-0348.
The Lowdown on Motion Detectors
Motion Detectors and Motion Sensors The last thing any of us wants is for someone to be sneaking around outside or inside our homes or businesses. Believe it or not, a motion detector can have a snooping creep behind bars in no time. That’s pretty nice, isn’t it? Something as simple as motion sensors inside and outside your Rochester home or business can protect what is yours. Types of Motion Detectors There are different types of motion detection. There are alarms with motion detectors. They are a part of the system so that when someone infiltrates a door or window, the alarm system can be triggered and the authorities notified. There are also these types: Driveway motion detectors – If you get a lot of visitors, mounting a driveway motion detector will let you know when someone is in your driveway. Really, you can place this type of motion detector anywhere around your house. Many of these have a range of up to 400 feet. That type of range is good for someone who lives in a rural area. A shorter range can be used if you live close to a city street. When the detector is triggered, it sets off an alert inside the house. It can be a chime or even a light that comes on. Motion activated flood lights – A motion activated flood light works the same way as a driveway alert. However, you don’t necessarily have to be notified when it is triggered. Instead, the flood light comes on and it shines on whatever has triggered it. If it is a burglar, they will most likely run away because they don’t want to be seen. If it is the neighbor’s dog, it probably won’t care. The barking motion detector – This can give a burglar a good jolt in the chest as their heart jumps out of it. They step up on your doorstep and suddenly a dog starts barking at them. These motion sensors can be set to activate when there is motion in front of windows or doors. Some models can also be set to less threatening sounds, especially when you are home and expecting visitors. Security alarms – This is the type that is going to give a burglar a nice scare. If they dare try to enter a window or door, the motion detector is going to tell the alarm system, which is going to alert the authorities. The alarm sounding is usually enough to scare the burglar away. What is great is that the motion sensors can be wireless so they can be placed anywhere. How do Motion Sensors Work? They can be passive infrared, ultrasonic, microwave, tomographic, or the sensor types can be combined. Yes, there are some big words there. Passive infrared simply detects anything that is warm-blooded. So if you’re the lizard belonging to the boy across the street decides to come for a visit, it isn’t going to be detected. Friendly people, cats, dogs, rabbits, Bigfoot, your annoying cousin, and burglars are going to be detected. Ultrasonic listens for sounds like metal on metal or breaking glass. Passive sensors are extremely sensitive, but they can often cause false alarms. Active sensors emit ultrasonic waves. Because dogs, cats, and some species of fish can hear these frequencies, they can be disturbed. If you have never seen a disturbed fish, this is one way you could achieve that. Microwave sensors use microwave pulses and then measure the reflection of those pulses off of objects to tell whether or not they are in motion. It is possible for these sensors to detect things not in the target range. Tomographic uses radio waves and senses when those waves are disturbed. These are expensive, but extremely useful in warehouses, storage units, and other areas that need commercial grade security. Professionally Installed Motion Detectors To make sure motion detectors are facing the right direction, are in the best places for detecting intruders, and are the most effective, it is best to have them professionally installed. SPS Fire & Security has a wide range of options for you to keep your home and business safe, so call today at 585-770-0348 to find out how you can protect your space.
Video Surveillance Cameras in Schools
School Video Surveillance Tips Keeping our kids safe should be the school’s number one priority. Schools nowadays should have a good security system in place. Video surveillance is what every school should have between theft, accidents leading to lawsuits and unwanted visits. If a school doesn’t already have video surveillance camera system to keep an eye on areas where personnel may not be present at all times, administrators should think about contacting a security company to learn about the advantages of getting one. Best Areas for Video Surveillance There are many areas of a school that administrators can’t monitor all the times. Three potential areas that are should have video surveillance; parking, playground, and hallways. Parking lots: Many individuals (staff, parents, kids, bus drivers, deliveries and more) come and go from the school grounds. Many problems occur in the school parking lot such as car accidents, break-ins, fights or loitering, but having security cameras to monitor that parking lot allows the administrator in charge of the cameras to oversee and playback any problems that may occur. Many problems can be resolved, such as who was at fault for a car accident. Playgrounds: A great number of accidents occur on the playground that not every staff member who is outside with the children can monitor. If an accident ever occurs, an administrator can playback the video surveillance footage to see all the specifics of the accident. Video surveillance can also be useful when determining who started a fight or identify someone who was on school grounds who shouldn’t have been. Hallways: One of the most common locations for video surveillance cameras is all through the school in the hallways. These locations are high traffic by not only the students and staff but many individuals who come to visit the school, such as parents and delivery people. Between fights and conflicts that happens near lockers and bathrooms, video surveillance is important to have in the hallways. Keeping Students Safe Parking lots, playgrounds and hallways are all good places to have video cameras, but the staff at the school knows best other areas where video surveillance can be useful. If there is a high rate of fights near a certain bathroom or around a corner that is hard to see, then maybe that is a spot where video surveillance can be added for monitoring. Contact Your Rochester Security Company If you as a parent or staff member know that your school doesn’t have proper security systems or needs to upgrade to more contact SPS Fire & Security at 585-770-0348.