Staying Home Alone in New York: Your 5-Step Guide for Parent Peace of Mind
When Are Kids Old Enough to Stay Home Alone? Staying home alone has unclear rules for most people. Macaulay Culkin stayed home alone. He was eight in the 1990 movie “Home Alone.” But, that doesn’t make it right. Each state has its own laws. They cover proper ages for kids left alone. A child’s age and maturity matter too. These decide if they can stay home solo. So, it comes down to your choice and the law. Staying 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. Fortunately, there are guidelines that you as a parent should follow if you are thinking about your kids staying home alone: 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: Never leave children aged seven and under home alone. Also, do not leave them in a car, at a playground, or in the backyard without an adult. 8 to 10 years old: You can leave children aged 8 to 10 at home. However, do this only during daytime or early evening. They can stay alone for no more than 1.5 hours. 11 to 12 years old: You can leave children aged 11 to 12 at home. Still, do this for no more than 3 hours. They cannot stay overnight. 13 to 15 years old: You can leave children aged 13 to 15 unsupervised for long times. But, they cannot stay overnight. 16 to 17 years old: You can leave children aged 16 to 17 unsupervised. Moreover, they can stay home overnight for up to two nights alone. Keep Your Family Secure Through a Rochester Home Security Company If your children are old enough and ready to stay home alone, contact SPS Fire and Security. Call us at 585-770-0348. We can help you find the right security alarm for your home.
Winter Fireplace Safety: What You Need to Know
Tips for Safe Fireplace Use Many people buy a house with a fireplace, or they plan to add one. But if you get a fireplace, you should think about many things, especially if you have small children. Fireplace safety is important for everyone in your family. There are many fireplace safety tips to consider: First, get a pro to install your fireplace. Next, each year before you use your fireplace, hire a chimney sweep. They will check and clean your chimney. Also, as a homeowner, make sure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Check that each one works well and has fresh batteries. Furthermore, if you have a fireplace, keep a fire extinguisher close by. Crucially, never put anything near the fireplace. Flammable items should be at least three feet from the fire. If you have pets or small children, think about putting a gate around the fireplace. In addition, never burn anything that could make the fire too big. Don’t burn trash, Styrofoam, or plastic. These things can make your fire get out of control and become dangerous. Moreover, never use liquids that catch fire easily to start your fire. You can buy special fire-starting logs to help get your fire going safely. Also, make sure you have a fire alarm installed in case the fire gets out of control when you’re not in the room.That way, you and your family can be alerted right away, and the fire department can be called so they can take care of the fire as quickly as possible. Safe Fireplace Use Always open the damper before you light a fire. This makes sure smoke goes up the chimney and not into your home. Only use dry, seasoned wood. Wet wood makes more smoke and can leave sticky gunk in your chimney, which can cause fires. Never leave a fire burning in your fireplace when you leave the house or go to bed. Make sure all the embers are out. Always use a metal screen or glass doors in front of your fireplace. This stops sparks from flying out and keeps kids and pets safe. Finally, clean out ashes carefully. Hot ashes can stay hot for days! Always put them in a metal can with a lid, and move it far away from your house. Security Systems Have Fire Alarms Also, getting your fire alarm professionally installed in the right locations will properly update you when there’s a fire. That way, you and your family can be alerted right away, and the fire department can be called so they can take care of the fire 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 Professional Monitoring Many homes in Rochester now have wireless security systems, and homeowners often choose professional monitoring. This is all part of how security systems have changed, even though that change took a long time. Here are some big steps in home security: Wireless sensors make installation faster and let you have more sensors. They also offer many other benefits. Smartphone apps let homeowners watch their security systems from anywhere with a wireless signal. You can arm or disarm the system using the app. In-home video cameras let you add cameras inside and outside your home. This helps you keep an eye on things when you are home or away. Home automation goes a step further. It lets you control simple things like your thermostat or a light switch with your smartphone. However, some homeowners think they should buy a system they can monitor themselves. They believe this allows them to skip professional monitoring. But professional security monitoring matters a lot! Professional Monitoring Is Key Professional monitoring matters because it calls the authorities right away if someone breaks into your home.Imagine you’re at work and can’t use your phone, and a burglar enters your house. You wouldn’t know the alarm went off until it’s too late. However, with professional monitoring, you get fire monitoring, carbon monoxide monitoring, and burglar alarm monitoring. This gives you three important safety checks all in one service. Problems with Monitoring-It-Yourself Besides not always being able to check your phone, here are more problems: The internet is super important. Without it, you can’t watch your security system. If you’re on a plane, in a place with no cell signal, or at work where you can’t use your phone, your home is open to burglars. You might not get the alert. Even if you do, you must call the police or fire department yourself. If you’re out of town, you can’t call 911 for your home directly. Why? Your phone will call the 911 in the area you are in. Also, if you are near another county, you might call their 911 by mistake instead of your own. Overall, professional monitoring really works. That’s why your home security system should offer it. It’s the best way to keep your home safe because they always watch things for you. You don’t have to worry if you lose your cell signal or can’t get alerts on 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 for Gym Safety Makes Members Feel Secure
Enhanced Gym Security Systems It’s already February, and many people wanted to go to the gym this year to get healthier. If you want a gym membership, you’ll see that many gyms now stay open 24 hours. Because of this, gyms can use a 24/7 access control security system. This access control for gym lets members with a special card swipe . This is so members can get into the gym any time, day or night. So, many people can go to the gym after a late work shift or early in the morning before the sun rises. Since many gyms can easily buy and use this system, it helps members feel safe when they enter. Access Control for Gym Safety: 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 to Have Access Control for Gym Safety 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.
Get Notified: How Motion Detectors Enhance Your Home Security
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, motion detectors 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, a driveway motion detector will let you know when someone arrives. You can actually place this type of motion detector almost anywhere around your house. Many of these detectors reach up to 400 feet, which is great if you live in a rural area. If you live closer to a city street, a shorter range works just fine. When the detector senses movement, it sets off an alert inside your house. This could be a chime or even a light that turns 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. Motion Detectors Come In Different Types 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? Motion detectors keep an eye on your space, but they don’t all work the same way. You can find them with passive infrared, ultrasonic, microwave, or tomographic sensors. Sometimes, they even combine different types to do a better job. Passive Infrared (PIR) Passive infrared sensors simply find anything warm-blooded. So, if your neighbor’s pet lizard wanders over, it won’t trigger the alarm. However, these sensors will detect people, cats, dogs, rabbits, even Bigfoot, your annoying cousin, and burglars. Ultrasonic Ultrasonic detectors work in two ways. Some passively listen for sounds like breaking glass or metal scraping. While incredibly sensitive, these can sometimes cause false alarms. Other ultrasonic sensors actively send out ultrasonic waves. Be aware that dogs, cats, and even some fish can hear these sounds, which might bother them. If you’ve ever wanted to see a fish look confused, this could be your chance! Microwave Microwave sensors send out microwave pulses. Then, they measure how those pulses bounce off objects to see if anything is moving. Sometimes, these sensors can even detect things outside their intended area. Tomographic Finally, tomographic sensors use radio waves. They sense when something disturbs these waves. While expensive, these detectors are super helpful in places like warehouses, storage units, and other large areas that need tough, commercial security. Professionally Installed Motion Detectors For the best results, have professionals install your motion detectors. They’ll make sure the sensors face the right way and are in the best spots to catch intruders, making them super effective. SPS Fire & Security offers many options to keep your home or business safe. Call us today at 585-770-0348 to learn how we can help you protect your space.
Enhancing Security: Video Surveillance in Schools
School Video Surveillance Tips Keeping our kids safe should be a school’s top priority. Today, every school needs a strong security system. Video surveillance in schools is essential to prevent theft, reduce accidents that can lead to lawsuits, and stop unwanted visitors. If a school doesn’t already use video cameras to watch areas without constant staff supervision, administrators should contact a security company. They can then learn about all the benefits of installing a system. Best Areas for Video Surveillance in Schools 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 people visit school grounds every day. Think about staff, parents, students, bus drivers, and delivery folks. The school parking lot often has issues. For example, you might see car accidents, break-ins, fights, or people just loitering. However, security cameras in the parking lot really help. The administrator who watches these cameras can see and review any problems that pop up. This allows them to solve many issues, such as figuring out who caused a car accident. Playgrounds: Unfortunately, lots of accidents happen on the playground. Even with staff outside, they can’t watch every child at once. But if an accident occurs, an administrator can play back the video. This helps them see exactly what happened. Video cameras also help figure out who started a fight or spot someone on school grounds who shouldn’t be there. Hallways: Hallways are a common and smart place for video cameras. Many people use them, like students, staff, parents, and even delivery drivers. Unfortunately, fights and other problems often start near lockers and bathrooms. That’s why having video cameras in hallways is truly important. Keeping Students Safe with Video Surveillance in Schools Parking lots, playgrounds, and hallways are great places for video cameras, but school staff often know other helpful spots for surveillance. For instance, if many fights happen near a specific bathroom or around a hard-to-see corner, adding a camera there could really help with monitoring. Contact Your Rochester Security Company for Video Surveillance in Schools 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.