Home Security and Safety - Protect Your Family and Home

Home Security and Safety Protect Your Family and Your Home Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................3 COMPONENTS OF HOME SAFETY & SECURITY ............................................................................................5 SECURE YOUR HOME: DEFEAT BURGLARY & THEFT ...............................................................................6 KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE: AVOID ACCIDENTS & PROTECT FAMILY ........................................... 14 WHEN DO YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL? ...................................................................................................... 33 HOW CAN COMMUNITY & CIVIL SERVICE HELP? ..................................................................................... 36 HOME REVIEW, SAFETY & SECURITY PLAN ................................................................................................ 36 PERIODIC REVIEW OF HOME SAFETY & SECURITY ................................................................................. 41 BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR HOME SAFETY & SECURITY.................................................................... 41 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................ 42 Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 2 Introduction When you think of home safety, you may think only of smoke detectors and locked doors. In fact, there is much more to this topic than meets the eye. Doctors and hospitals report that, in most cases, the accident victims they treat suffered the injury in, or around, the home. Consider these statistics 1. In the United Kingdom, a home safety study revealed the following: Accidents INDOORS in the Home 2000 2,180,973 2001 2,065,923 2002 2,122,980 Accidents OUTDOORS near the Home 2000 494,609 2001 504,780 2002 540,134 2. In the U.S., the National Safety Council, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control report that:  Injury is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-14.  In 2000, nearly 373,000 children ages 14 and under were treated in the US for injuries sustained while riding a bicycle.  Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury for children.  Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-14. Most incidents of drowning or near drowning happen in residential swimming pools.  For very young children, drowning deaths can occur in less than one inch of water in a bathtub or other open water source.  45% of accidental injury deaths occur in and around the home. Accidental death in children most often occurs because of fire and burns, suffocation, drowning, unattended firearms, falls, choking or accidental poisoning.  In the U.S., approximately 2,300 children ages 14 and under died from accidents in the home in the year 2000. Pagina 3 Work from home selling Amazon products  There are nearly 5 million dog bites in the U.S. each year and most of those happen in or around the home. 3. In 1995, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System calculated annual injury totals for injuries incurred by the use of equipment, appliances and other items you would find in just about any home. Here is what they found:                      Workshop Equipment Power Tools (except saws) Manual Tools Small Kitchen Appliances Glass Doors and Windows Ranges & Ovens Irons and Steamers Misc. Appliances Washers and Dryers Fans (excluding Stove Exhaust) Heating Stoves and Space Heaters TV Sets and Stands Razors, Shavers, Razor Blades Sewing Machines and Equipment Chain Saws Hatchets and Axes Lawn and Garden Equipment Lawn Mowers (all types) Trimmers, Power Garden Tools BBQ Grills, Stoves Exercise Equipment 46,407 31,742 125,780 43,453 216,193 53,401 17,266 34,941 22,590 17,050 37,805 42,000 43,365 29,814 38,692 16,760 51,324 85,202 14,635 16,087 95,127 If these statistics do not give you pause for thought, you may still want to attend to home safety and security. Even if you think your home is safe, it does not hurt to consider the information contained in this book. We have included many great tips on home safety and security and addressed some areas you may never have considered in your home. Isn’t your health and safety and the security of your family and children worth the effort? In this book, you will find ‘room checklists’ and safety hazard information. Pagina 4 Work from home selling Amazon products In addition, we will tell you how to employ professionals and the members of your fire department and other civil organizations to ensure that your home is safe and secure. Toward the end of the book, you will find a section you can use to make your own notes. Here, you can establish a plan for home review, and home safety and security improvement. Components of Home Safety & Security For the purposes of this discussion, let’s separate home ‘security’ and ‘home safety’.  Home Security – This component includes protection and devices that will ensure your home is safe from intruders, damage or theft.  Home Safety – Items and conditions both inside and outside your home that may cause injury if they are in disrepair, are not maintained or not in the proper position. This component also includes items that may be perfectly safe for adults, but may be dangerous to children or pets if not properly stored, maintained, or sealed. As you review the various considerations in each category, keep in mind that older homes are not the only structures where there may be a concern. When you think of home safety issues, you may have an image of old electrical wiring or a broken chimney flue. There is much more to it than that. And, that is why we wrote this book! Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 5 Secure Your Home: Defeat Burglary & Theft Did you know that nine out of ten household burglaries are preventable? In most cases of theft, vandalism or burglary, homes are not well protected. If you are not sure of the crime statistics in your area, use this link to look up your state and city (or the city closest to you), and then take appropriate action. While this site includes all kinds of crime statistics, it will give you a comparative idea of community safety. http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/crimecity.asp While the average teenage vandal may not look for signs of security systems, professional burglars will. If you live in a high crime area, it is best to consider a security system. We will talk about types of systems a bit later in this section. If you cannot afford a system, there are some things you can do to protect your home against vandals and burglars. Take a look at the checklist below for more ideas! Remember that most home security violations happen at night, when you are away from home for a long period of time – like a vacation - or when you are obvious about your presence or absence. When you go on vacation, be sure to review the checklist below so that your home will be safe while you are away. Think like a burglar or vandal. How much time would a burglar need to break into your home? Are there easy entrances and exits for the burglar? Will he/she have all the time he needs inside your home without neighbors or police seeing the illegal activity? Pretend you are a thief! Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 6 Walk around your home looking for entry points (doors, windows), or expensive, attractive items stored or displayed in open areas (where the burglars can see through windows without drapery or blinds). If you have visible valuables, like paintings, sculpture, silver antiques rearrange your room so that potential burglars cannot see these items from outside your home. Better yet, for those smaller, valuable items like jewelry, furs, china or firearms, store them in a closet or cabinet with a solid door and a tamper proof hinge, and lock it with a deadbolt. Keep a catalogue listing and description, and pictures of all valuable objects in a safe or strong box. Or, open an account with a bank and keep your stocks, bonds, important papers and other small valuables like jewelry and cash in a safety deposit box at the bank. Where is the point of easiest entry for a prospective burglar? Can you make this entry more burglar resistant in any way? Look at the outside of your house and try to determine where burglars might take cover while they are breaking into your home. If you have trees or shrubs near your doors or windows, cut them back or replace them with other plantings that are lower and less likely to act as hiding places for burglars. You may think that high fences are a good idea for privacy, but they do offer more cover for burglars who may be prowling in or around your house. Consider lower fences or fences with light coming through between the slats so that neighbors and police can see any activity in your yard. Check the locks on your doors and windows to be sure they are secure and cannot be easily opened or broken from outside. Consider shatterproof glass on your windows (or window grates or barriers if you live in a really bad neighborhood) to defeat burglars before they can gain entry to your home. 40% of home break-ins and vandalism occur when a door or window is left unlocked. Lock your doors and windows when you are away, or if you are home alone. Fix any broken locks you may have on doors or windows and, if you can install deadbolts on doors that lead to the outside. When you buy a house or rent an apartment, get new locks and keys! Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 7 You don’t have to spend thousands on a security system to improve the security of your home. Your local hardware store carries padlocks, deadbolts, and other devices that will help you secure your windows and doors. Some alarm systems are less expensive and can be mounted on doors and windows, without the expense or complication of a full home system. Check all the doors in your house that lead to the outside or into a garage. These should be metal or solid wood and should measure at least 1.75” in thickness. Check the doorframes to be sure they are secure and cannot be taken apart easily and quickly. Make sure the door fits into the frame without gaps. Even if your locks are strong, a good burglar can get into your house if your doors or doorframes are weak. If you have a sliding glass door in your home, you can buy special locks to make this door more difficult to open. You can also place a steel rod or wooden dowel in the channel of the door so that it is harder to open it. Be sure the rod or dowel is long enough to keep a burglar from opening the door enough to slip through. Install a ‘fish eye’ or wide-angle peephole on your doors so you can see who is outside before you open the door. Ask all sales and/or service people to show their ID so you can view it through your peephole before you let them in. NEVER leave service staff in your home alone, and try to have someone home with you whenever a service person is coming to your house. Don’t count on chains to protect you. The door mounts for these chains can be easily dislodged if a burglar or intruder pushes hard enough on the door after you open it to see who is outside. You can buy ‘key’ locks for most types of windows and you can also secure your window locks further by fastening the upper lower frames together with a nail or vice grip device. Pagina 8 Work from home selling Amazon products If you live in apartment and use one of your windows for fire egress, you should install a metal accordion gate that prevents burglar entry but allows you quick exit in case of fire. Work with your roommate, family or spouse to establish a nightly routine to check all doors, windows and, if appropriate, alarm systems, before you go to bed. Do not give personal information or information about your schedule to unknown callers, e.g. if a carpet cleaner calls to ask if you want a special deal on carpet cleaning and says they will be in your area during the week of the 10th, do not tell them you will be out of town then! Do not give your address in personal ads or ads to sell items in the local newspaper. If you are having a garage sale, you can specify the street and then post signs at the end of the street on the day of the sale. Call the police if you see anyone suspicious lurking around your home before or after the sale. Do not keep your house key on a keychain with your address or leave your house key in your car in a parking lot. Do not hide your keys in a ‘secret location’ outside your home. Thieves have all of these spots figured out! Do not keep extra house keys lying around! If you have extra keys, keep them in a safe deposit box or a strong box. If your neighbor has a spare key, make sure your address is not written on the tag or key chain. If you are going away for any length of time you can buy a timer to turn lights off and on, but if a burglar believes you are away (because of mail or newspapers piling up in your mailbox or on your lawn, or because your grass has not been cut) he/she may still make an attempt on your home. You can have a neighbor check your house every day and leave different lights on each time. You can use these devices on radios and TVs as well and that will add some convincing noise to your home. Set these timers to come on at different times of the day. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 9 You can also have your neighbor take in your mail but don’t have them pile it on a table that is visible from a window, or the burglar will figure out that you are gone. Stop your mail and/or your newspaper while you are away if you must. Do not leave your car in the same spot in the driveway for a week or more at a time. If you must give your neighbor the keys and have them move the car every day or every two days. Have someone mow your lawn and shovel the snow from your sidewalk and driveway while you are away. Tell your local police department and a few responsible neighbors when are going to be away and leave a contact phone number so that they can call you in case of emergency. Ask them to keep an eye on the house and give the neighbors permission to call the police if they see anything suspicious. Offer to reciprocate when your neighbors go away. If you return the favor, your neighbors are more likely to be diligent about fulfilling their promise to you when it is their turn. When you think about home security, you should consider this: No matter safe your neighborhood, no matter how many precautions you take to protect yourself and your family, you may still find yourself the victim of a theft, burglary or vandalism incident. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk: Outside your home (approaching your home):  Stay alert! Always be aware of your surroundings and who may be walking or standing near you or waiting up ahead.  Be especially alert after dark! DO NOT wear headphones when you are walking alone. You MUST be able to hear what is happening around you.  Do not walk in dark areas – always take the route that is well lit!  Keep your chin up and look confident (thieves prey on those who look the most vulnerable). Walk at a steady pace and do not act as if you are afraid!  When walking along a street, always walk facing traffic. Pagina 10 Work from home selling Amazon products  Do not walk near shrubbery, doorways, alleys, corridors, or trees – stay close to the curb on the street side of the sidewalk.  If you think someone is following you, walk quickly to a well-lit area and look for other people to join.  If you are being followed by a car, assess the situation (speed of the car and the distance at which they are following you), and then take one of the following actions: o If the car is driving slowly a good distance behind you: speed up for a few steps, cross the street quickly before the car can respond by speeding up to catch you and start walking in the opposite direction on the other side of the street. o If the car is keeping pace with you: drop back quickly and turn in the opposite direction. Walk a few steps until you are well behind the car and then quickly cross the street and keep walking in the opposite direction. In both cases, if a car is following you, go to a neighbor's house, find a well-lit area with other people or call loudly for help and dial 911 on your cell phone. Inside your home:  If you confront a thief inside your home, run away and call the police from a safe location.  Do NOT go outside and stand on your front lawn to call the police. Get far enough away that you will be safe and THEN make your phone call.  If you cannot get out of the house, lock yourself in a room and then call 911 from a landline or cell phone.  If you are unable to get away, remain calm and cooperate with the thief. Let the thief take whatever they want. Do not try to tackle the thief, or make threats or get into an argument with the thief. It is better to file an insurance claim than to be injured or killed trying to thwart the robbery. If you choose to consider alarm systems for your home, there are many options. Some are more expensive than others, but all are worth consideration. Pagina 11 Work from home selling Amazon products Sensors and Detectors These systems detect breaking glass so that an alarm is sounded when the burglar breaks the glass, and once the alarm has sounded, the burglar is less likely to enter your home.  Door and window sensors are installed at entry points. These sensors have magnetic seals that detect any attempted entry, or movement of the door or window on which they are installed.  Motion sensors can be installed inside OR outside a building. In homes, an indoor motion sensor is usually not a viable solution because your family will set off the alarm! These types of systems are usually reserved for commercial buildings, museums and the like. However, outdoor motion sensing devices have become quite popular. These devices turn on lights around the perimeter of your house when motion is detected. If a thief approaches your house under cover of darkness, he/she will be well illuminated by the light and is likely to run away. Photoelectric detectors have dual beams that reduce false alarms from small animals, falling branches or leave, birds, debris, or icicles.  Door alarms offer basic protection and while burglars may also try to gain entry to your home through a window, doors are the usual entry and exit point for burglars. They may enter through an unlocked door, pry the door open, take the door off the hinges or, in the case of a door with a glass window, simply break the glass. Door alarms provide good protection for those on a limited budget. If you are installing your own sensors or alarm devices, you can buy an ‘auto-dialer’ to automatically notify you or someone else when the alarm is triggered. Wireless house, driveway and yard systems warn of someone inside your house or approaching your house. These systems can be ‘internal’ setting off an alarm that you hear and control. Pagina 12 Work from home selling Amazon products Professionally installed systems are wired to a central station where your home security is monitored and the police are notified of any breach of security. We will talk more about professional installations later, in the section entitled, ‘When Do You Need a Professional?’ It is important to break down and dispose of the boxes that contained your security devices. If you leave these boxes at the curb for trash or recycling pick-up, an enterprising thief may decide to try to break into your home before you finish the installation. Don’t give a burglar pause for thought. Wait until your devices are fully installed and THEN you can post home security signs, placards and decals on your windows, on your lawn or near your doors. It is important to post decals on all windows on the ground floor so that a thief will see them, no matter which window he approaches. Even if the thief thinks you are bluffing, she/he is likely to try another home rather than take a chance of setting off an alarm system. Consider these questions to decide what kind of alarm system or device(s) you want to buy and install.  How high is the crime rate in your neighborhood  How secluded is your property  How likely is it that neighbors or police can see a thief breaking into your home  How often are you away for more than 12 hours  How often is someone alone in your home (a young teen, an elderly parent, etc.)  How many windows do you have in your home?  How large are the windows in your home?  Do you have sliding glass doors?  Do you have easy access to a second floor window or deck door?  Do you have a long driveway that may conceal your house from neighbors and shield a thief? Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 13  How much money do you have to spend on an alarm system or device?  Can you install a device or system yourself or will you need a professional? Before we leave this section, please review the checklist of items below for home security. You will use this checklist later to complete your review and expand the checklist into a personal plan in the section entitled, ‘Home Review, Safety & Security Plan’ Security Checklist Item Entry/Exit Doors Doors to Rooms Windows Valuables Outside Vacation Alarm System Training Considerations Check lock mechanisms (sturdy locks?) hinges (can they be taken off to gain entry?) Interior locks on doors to protect those inside Solid lock mechanisms, drapery or blinds Visible from windows or stored appropriately Outside lighting to deter thieves? Bushes, shrubs and trees trimmed or removed from around windows and doors? Newspaper, free circulars, mail, snow or grass maintenance, lights and radio or TV on timer, car in driveway Alarm devices or systems installed as appropriate? Family and occupants of the house trained in how to protect personal safety inside and outside home Keeping Your Home Safe: Avoid Accidents & Protect Family When it comes to home safety, your concerns and considerations are much more complicated than those related to home security. The reason for this is simple. You live in your home every day and anything that is broken, misplaced, deteriorated or misused can present a danger to you and to your family. So, your checklist and concerns will be more plentiful and your maintenance responsibilities will be ongoing! Pagina 14 Work from home selling Amazon products It isn’t enough to review your home once and leave it at that. Anything new you add to your home, anything that breaks, or any person who comes to visit or to live with you may pose a new hazard. In this book, we address the most common pitfalls and dangers in your home. Your own situation may vary and, if so, you will need to review your home with an eye toward unique conditions or situations, and address those as well. We will allow plenty of room for you to add items to your checklist in the sections that address ‘Home Review, Safety & Security Plan’ and ‘Periodic Review of Home Safety & Security’. Let’s look at the common sources of injury and safety hazards in the average home: Fire No one EVER thinks it will happen to them – until the day they are standing in the street watching their house burn to the ground, or the day someone in their family is seriously injured in a fire in their home. Take fire prevention responsibilities seriously and teach your family and children about the hazards and safety precautions. Consider these facts:  Fire is one of most common causes of accidental death in the home and most often affects children and aging adults.  4,000 Americans die in fires annually, and more than 25,000 people are injured.  In the U.S. the cost of home damage from fires exceeds $2 billion annually.  The most common locations for fires to start in the home are in the kitchen and the garage or storage area. The most common causes of home fires include:  Space Heaters – Space heaters can help you save money on home heating bills and can heat rooms that may be drafty or cold. Newer space heaters have many beneficial safety features like automatic shutoff if the heater is tipped. But you still need to take care when using a space heater. Pagina 15 Work from home selling Amazon products When you buy a space heater, be sure it is certified by a lab like the ‘Underwriters Laboratories’. Stay away from used space heaters you might find at garage sales. Read all the instructions in the user manual before you use the heater and follow the instructions carefully. If you are using an extension cord, be sure it is not frayed or old and read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the type of cord, gauge and size recommended for your particular heater. When the heater is not in use, turn it off and unplug it. Never leave the heater running when no one is in the room. Never leave a child unattended with your space heater. Place your space heater at least 3 feet from flammable items like furniture, drapery or curtains, bedding, rugs, clothing or wall covering. Do not use a space heater to dry clothing, shoes or other items. Keep space heaters and other appliances away from running or standing water. If you are going to use a space heater in a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room, check the manufacturer’s instructions before you buy the heater to be sure this particular model is rated to be used around water and includes appropriate safety device features.  Lights and Lamps - The tubular halogen lamp bulb is much hotter than most light bulbs and can cause fire hazard when the bulb comes into contact with wood, clothing, curtains, wall covering or other flammable material. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that approximately 40 million halogen ‘torchiere’ floor lamps were recalled because certain models are likely to cause fires. At least 189 fires and 11 deaths have occurred since 1992 and the lighting industry has made free wire guards available to consumers to accommodate older lamps. When you install these wire guards they reduce the fire hazard caused when flammable materials touch the halogen bulb. Pagina 16 Work from home selling Amazon products You can receive a free wire guard with installation instructions by calling (800) 523-5702 extension 592 or sending a postcard to Consumer Services, 18191 NW 68th Avenue, Miami, FL 33015. This program applies only to ‘torchiere’ floor lamps with halogen bulbs. To avoid further fire hazard, follow these simple rules for ANY and all light bulbs including work lights, halogen bulbs and other light bulbs. Never place a light bulb or lamp near curtains or draperies. Never drape cloth, clothing or other items over or near a lamp. Never leave a lamp with a bare or exposed bulb on when you are out of the room or away from home. Place your lamps and lighting fixtures in a position that is safe, away from children and pets, where the lamp or light cannot be tipped or toppled. Use bulbs with appropriate wattage in every lamp (be sure you read the manufacturer’s recommendations), and only use the wattage you need. You should never use halogen or other bulb over 300 watts. Be sure that all extension cords are adequate in length, appropriate for the lamp you are using, and in good condition with no fray or nick in the wire.  Stoves and Fireplaces – If you have a fireplace, a wood-burning stove or a gas stove, take care with flammable items around open flame. Store extra wood far enough way from the stove or fireplace so that it does not catch fire from a spark. Do not store fuel, gas, lighter fluid or other things in these areas. Do not let children play around or near these areas. Do not leave fires burning for long periods of time when you are not in the room. Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks and spitting. If you are using a wood burning cook stove or gas stove to cook food, keep all pot handles turned inward so children and pets do not tip hot food or liquids. Have your chimney cleaned every year and be sure the service provider checks for breaks or damage inside the chimney and at the roof around the chimney so Pagina 17 Work from home selling Amazon products that sparks do not lodge in cracks or crevices and start a fire in the structure of your house.  Trash and Rags – Do not store trash or pile cloth, rags or any other kind of fabric near a furnace, hot water heater or other source of heat.  Electric Tools and Appliances – Before you buy any tool or appliance check for ratings from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM). Keep your tools and appliances clean and check for frayed or worn cords or plugs. Dispose of these devices immediately if you find any evidence of deterioration. If you are using an extension cord, plug strip or surge protector, be sure these connections are in good shape and are not frayed or damaged.  Boilers and Furnaces – Have your boiler or furnace serviced every year. Do not store gas cans, paint or other flammable liquids or items near your furnace or boiler.  Electrical Wiring, Plugs, Surge Protectors - If you own or are considering an older home, be sure you have an electrician check the wiring. Replace any old wiring. It may be expensive to do so, but it is less expensive than losing your home in a fire from faulty wiring. Check all extension cords, surge protectors and plug strips regularly to be sure that they are not old, worn or damaged. Do not overload extension cords, wall plugs, plug strips or surge protectors. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cords and multi-cord connectors. Even after you have taken all of these precautions, it is possible to have a fire in your home. Be prepared!  Smoke Detectors - 12,000 children under the age of 15 are injured in residential fires every year, and 90% of these victims live in homes without working smoke alarms. Be sure you have enough smoke detectors and that they are placed in the appropriate locations throughout your home. Pagina 18 Work from home selling Amazon products Your local fire department can be a great help in this regard. See the section entitled, ‘How Can Community & Civil Service Help?’ for more information on how your local fire department can help you assess your home. The National Fire Protection Association recommends one smoke detector outside each bedroom, and smoke detectors on all levels of your home, including the basement and the garage. Most states run a public service campaign annually to remind you to test your smoke alarm and replace the batteries each time there is a time change for Daylight Savings Time (in the Spring and the Fall). Check the batteries and stay alert to that weak beeping sound you may hear from some smoke alarms. This tells you that the battery is failing, and you should replace it immediately. Check the manufacturer guidelines on your smoke detectors. Some must be replaced within 7-10 years. Use smoke detectors approved by an Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Do not take the batteries out of your smoke detector if it goes off because of cooking smoke or other false alarm. Open the windows and wave the smoke away from the smoke alarms. If you remove the batteries you may forget to put them back into the unit and that could be a tragic mistake. Test your smoke alarms EVERY MONTH on the same day of the month (the 1st or the 30th or 31st – whatever you choose).  Fire Extinguishers – These devices can control a small fire and prevent major damage to your home. They can also keep the fire at bay until the fire department gets there. Buy a fire extinguisher and keep one near or in the kitchen and one near or in the garage. Teach everyone in the family how to use the device and be sure they understand that they should call the fire department even if they feel they have the fire under control.  A good all-purpose fire extinguisher is a multi-use dry chemical fire extinguisher (labeled as ‘A-B-C’). These extinguishers are effective against most fires. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 19    Type A fire extinguishers are effective for fires involving wood, rubber, cloth, paper, and most plastics. Type B extinguishers are effective for fires that involve gasoline, oils, grease, paint, paint remover or solvents and kitchen grease. Type C extinguishers work on electrical fires from motors, fuses, electrical wiring, appliances, power tools, and electronic devices. Remember, you should always call the fire department regardless of the size or scope of the fire. Your family should establish a good plan to escape fire and practice the drill periodically. In your mind, any fire that may happen in your home, as unlikely as that may seem to you, will happen when you are all together perhaps around the dinner table or in the living room. In fact, if the fire happens during a normal day, your family members are likely to be in different rooms and if it happens in the middle of the night, you will be groping around in the dark. DO NOT establish a plan to look for others in the house (unless you have a very young child or an elderly or handicapped family member who cannot get out of the house by themselves). You plan should include assigned roles and someone should be designated to call 911. If that person is incapacitated, you should have a back up assigned. Better that 911 get two phone calls from separate sources than to get NO phone calls. If you have a cell phone with you, do not make the call from the house. Call after you get outside and are safely away from the house. Make a simple floor plan of your house and have everyone memorize all exits (remember that one exit may be blocked, and you will have to think clearly and remember where the other exits are so that you can get out of the house in time). If your house or apartment building is more than one story, you will need a rope ladder or another way to get out of the house and onto the ground without jumping. You should plan at least two ways to get out of every room. You can make a game of the practice and plan but do what you have to do to get children and everyone in the house to memorize the routes to safety. Pagina 20 Work from home selling Amazon products By all means, plan a meeting place outside your home, at a safe distance from the house. Create a buddy system so that everyone has a partner and is responsible for calling to them inside to get them moving and remind them where to go and to check for their presence outside when they arrive at the designated meeting place. If you have pets, elderly family members, handicapped family or young children, assign a responsible adult to find and help these people or pets. In any case if the area of the house in which that person or pet resides is blocked by fire, do not attempt to make a rescue. Instead go to the meeting place and be sure the fire department has been called. Never go back into a burning house to rescue people, personal belongings or other items. Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that, if inhaled over a period of time can cause unconsciousness and death. While most people think of carbon monoxide poisoning as something that happens only if you sit in an enclosed space with your car running, many carbon monoxide deaths and poisonings happen in the home from faulty heating systems or poorly maintained chimneys. Other possible sources of carbon monoxide leaks include:  Fireplaces  Cigarette smoke  Gas stoves  Gas water heaters  Gas dryers  Kerosene heaters  Charcoal grills  Exhaust from automobiles Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 21  Lawnmowers  Leaf blowers  Gas fueled equipment (generators, etc.) When the windows in your home are closed during the winter months, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is much higher. The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that 200 people die annually from carbon monoxide poisoning, while approximately 5,000 people become seriously ill from inhaling this gas. Among the most vulnerable are the elderly, those with heart or lung conditions, infants and young children and people who suffer from anemia. To avoid accidental carbon monoxide leaks and poisoning:  Be sure you maintain all fuel burning systems (including fireplaces).  Check the units often. Any major source of heat for your home should be checked annually be a qualified service representative.  Follow manufacturer instructions and be sure there is sufficient fresh air and ventilation for your furnace intake, and when using any gas-burning device, tool or appliance.  Keep your chimney and flues open, connected, free from debris  Have a service technical check for cracks or damage to your chimney every year before you begin to use your furnace or your fireplace.  NEVER leave a car, lawnmower or any other device running in an enclosed space.  If your fuel-fired appliance or device is not vented, be sure you only use it outside or that you provide adequate ventilation inside by leaving windows open to get fresh air.  NEVER sleep in an enclosed space with a kerosene or gas heater running. Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Select a detector that is labeled approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Purchase a unit that is easy to test so that you know it is working at all times. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 22 Install your detector close to sleeping areas so that you will have an early warning if there are problems. Many carbon monoxide poisonings happen at night when the family is sleeping and because carbon monoxide is an odorless gas and carbon monoxide poisoning causes loss of consciousness, it is easy to slip into this state without knowing there is a problem. The symptoms of poisoning can resemble flu symptoms. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get yourself or the victim out of the house to fresh air immediately. Open all doors and windows in the house, turn off all possible sources of carbon monoxide and LEAVE THE HOUSE. Get medical care for the victim. Remember that if you have a slight leak of carbon monoxide, the symptoms may not be severe. They may seem like mild flu symptoms, and you may only notice that the victim feels ill when they are in the home. They may complain of a headache, nausea or fatigue. Ask others in the home if they have noticed symptoms and see if there is a pattern to when the symptoms occur. Children and elderly individuals or those with lung or heart problems are more susceptible, so take their complaints seriously, even if no one else is complaining of symptoms.  If the concentration of carbon monoxide is not significant, there may be no symptoms.  When this concentration reaches 15%, the victim may complain of headaches.  At approximately 25% symptoms include very serious headaches and nausea.  At 30% and above, the victim will experience dizziness, severe nausea, headaches, and rapid breathing, accompanied by a rapid pulse.  Above this concentration, the victim may collapse, fall into an unconscious state or even go into convulsions.  At concentrations of 50% or over, prolonged exposure will cause death. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 23 If your carbon monoxide detector alarm sounds, you should:  Be sure it is the carbon monoxide detector you are hearing and NOT the smoke detector  Check everyone in the house for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.  If anyone displays symptoms, evacuate the house immediately and seek medical treatment for everyone who was in the house at the time.  If no one displays symptoms, open windows and/or doors to ventilate the house and turn off any appliance, motor or device that may be causing the problem.  If you have a gas stove, dryer or furnace, turn off the gas line at the source and call the utility company. Then leave the house.  DO NOT use matches, lighters or other ignition devices in the house until you are sure it has been thoroughly checked by the utility company, and avoid using anything that will create static electricity. Poisons Most victims of accidental poisoning are young children. This is not surprising because young children are curious and most have yet to learn about danger. They make the assumption that anything within their reach is fair game for exploration and experimentation. To avoid accidental poisoning of pets, children or ANYONE, follow these simple rules: NEVER store medicine or cleaning products within reach of children NEVER coax your children to take medicine by calling it ‘candy’ or saying how good it tastes (this will just make them want to take it even when they don’t need it). NEVER store unlabeled jars, boxes or containers. Be clear about what is in the container and if it is potentially hazardous do not store it within reach of pets, children or others who may not be responsible adults. Do not keep medicines past the expiration date. If you keep pest control products (rat poison, ant traps etc) in your home, store them well out of reach of children and pets. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 24 In the garage, store all cleaning products, lawn and garden products and other harmful chemicals up off the floor and out of reach. Consider putting them in a cabinet with a lock. If you routinely take medication, do not leave it where a child can find it. Keep drugs, chemicals, cleaning products, shampoo and other personal care products in labeled containers. Do not put these in food containers or food storage containers. When you are on vacation practice the same kind of safety and control with medication and cleaning fluids, etc. Many accidental poisonings happen on vacation while visiting someone else’s home, or renting a condo or other residence. When you fill a prescription or buy over the counter medication be sure that these products have a childproof cap. If you need an easy-open cap because of arthritis or other conditions, ALWAYS take special care to keep these bottles and containers away from children. Keep a bottle of Ipecac in your medicine chest to induce vomiting in case your child or someone else ingests a dangerous chemical or medication. Do not administer this until you speak to a local or national poison control center, a doctor or a qualified healthcare professional in an emergency room. Some chemicals (like lye) can do more damage as the chemical is expelled from the victim’s system. Post the contact number of poison control center (and any poison treatment publications your community may offer) near your phone so you can get to it quickly in case of emergency. If you suspect poisoning, or the victim shows signs of dizziness, vomiting, nausea, pain in the abdomen, shallow breathing, clammy skin, hyperactivity, drowsiness or other unusual behavior, call 911 or your local or national poison control hotline immediately. Follow their instructions carefully until an ambulance arrives and can take over care of the victim. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 25 NEVER give food, liquid, or drugs to someone who may have ingested poison. Keep the victim comfortable and calm. Find the container, label or sample of the ingested poison and give it to the emergency response team when the ambulance arrives. If the victim stops breathing, perform CPR. Be sure you clean around the victim’s mouth before you perform CPR if you suspect that they have ingested anything that may be poisonous to you on contact. If you do not know how to perform CPR, call 911 again and ask them to walk you through the steps on the phone (if possible have someone else talk to the 911 operator and call out the directions to you as you perform them). If not, put the 911 operator on speaker phone so that you can work on the victim and follow the operator’s instructions, to keep the victim’s respiration going until the ambulance arrives. Railings, Walkways and Stairs Take care to perform routine home maintenance so that you reduce the chance of accidents or injury from falling or tripping. Check the stability of your deck, deck railing, stairway railing, flagstones or other stones on any walkways, patios or driveways. If you are unsure of the stability of a structure like a deck or balcony, call in a structural expert from the town, or call a structural engineer or carpenter to check these structures and ensure competence. Fix broken steps or stairs immediately. Trees, Shrubbery, Bushes Keep your trees, shrubbery and bushes trimmed, so as to avoid injury from falling branches, or eye injuries from branches or leaves that may swat someone in the eye when a child or adult is walking past plantings. If you have trees overhanging your roof or eves, be sure you check these trees at least twice a year to be sure that the roots are stable and solid and that any dead branches or signs of deterioration are treated by tree specialists. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 26 If the tree is dying or dead, you should consider cutting it down so that it does not fall on your house during a storm. If you are considering plantings and landscaping in your yard, take care to plant trees and bushes so that they do not block windows or doors (you don’t want to give a potential burglar a place to hide while they are trying to break into your house). If you have a play area or pool in your yard, do not surround it with bushes or trees. You want to be sure you can see your children at play at all times in case a child falls or is injured in the play area or in the pool. Roof Check your roof at least once a year to be sure you are not losing shingles and that shingles are not loose or deteriorating. Leaks that damage your attic or the interior or your house may not be visible right away but they can cause problems inside the walls of your home if insulation or wiring is soaked or wet. Leaks and Mold If you DO have a leak in your home (through a window, through the roof or otherwise) get it fixed immediately and if the leak is severe, check for dampness and water in the ceiling, walls, basement or store room. Mildew and mold can cause serious illness and injury and symptoms are sometimes hard to diagnose even when you know you are ill. Doctors often overlook mold or mildew as the cause of allergies, asthma, pulmonary problems, headaches and many other symptoms. If you live in a basement apartment or live over a storeroom with dampness or mildew, buy a dehumidifier for the area so that the dampness is mitigated. If you own a home that has a damp basement or damp rooms, use a dehumidifier to reduce the effects of mildew and mold on your health. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 27 Choking Most victims of choking are children, but you should beware of choking hazards for adults as well and every responsible child and adult in your home should know how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver in order to help anyone who may be choking. Avoid choking hazards by keeping young children away from small objects, pieces of toys, small pieces of board games, etc. Read the manufacturer instructions for all toys and games and follow the guidelines to buy only those toys and games that are appropriate for a child of a particular age. Do not give young children foods that will cause them to choke (carrots, nuts, hot dog chunks, etc.). Be sure you cut all food into appropriate sized pieces before giving it to a child and do not leave young children unattended around foods that may cause a choking hazard. Be aware of all small objects in your home (whether you have a young child, an infant or a small child visiting your house). Put these items out of reach so as to avoid temptation. Remember that young children put EVERYTHING in their mouth! 95% of the victims who die from choking can be saved by using the Heimlich Maneuver. This is an emergency procedure to remove a foreign object from a person’s throat when that object is preventing the person from breathing. It is a simple procedure that can be performed anyone who understands the technique. The maneuver involves compression of the abdomen below the level of the diaphragm. The theory is that when air is forced up and out of the lungs with compression or pressure, the force will dislodge the obstruction in the throat and bring the object back out through the mouth. It is used when food, coins, vomit, toys or other small objects are blocking the victim’s airway. If someone appears to be choking, but they are still conscious and functional, ask them if they are choking and need help. If they nod or give you a sign, perform the maneuver. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 28 If a child or adult is incapacitated or unable to give you a sign but is struggling to breathe and appears to be choking, FIRST CALL 911, THEN begin the maneuver immediately. Look for these signs:  Inability to talk or answer questions  Victim is making a high pitched noise or choking sound  Difficulty in breathing or noisy or wheezing breath related to choking (not to asthma or other breathing-related problems)  Victim is holding their throat or neck as if they are choking  Inability to cough  Skin, nails or lips are blue or gray  Loss of consciousness Ask someone to call 911 and begin performing the Heimlich Maneuver immediately. Perform it as many times as necessary to clear the object from the victim’s throat. Take care to perform the maneuver correctly so you do not break ribs or damage the chest or organs. If the victim is a child, is pregnant, is in a wheelchair, is very obese or is an infant, you will have to modify the technique. To perform the Heimlich Maneuver on an adult who is still conscious:  Stand behind the sitting or standing victim  Put both arms around the victim.  Make a fist with one hand, and place your fist above the waist, below the rib cage with the thumb of your hand pointing in toward the victim’s abdomen.  Place your other hand on top of your fist and thrust UP AND IN toward the victim’s abdomen. Perform this motion 5-10 times (or until the object is dislodged and the person is coughing and breathing) Remember that you are attempting to push the object UP toward the mouth by using the force of the air trapped in the lower lungs. As the victim becomes weaker, the object may be more likely to dislodge since the muscles in the throat will relax. Pagina 29 Work from home selling Amazon products Therefore, it may take a series of 2-3 sets of 5-10 thrusts before you can dislodge the object. If the victim is unconscious:  Lay the victim on the ground or floor  Bend the victim’s chin forward and up to make sure the tongue is not blocking the throat  Carefully feel in the mouth for any objects, taking care NOT TO push the object further back into the mouth or throat.  Kneel over the victim so that your body is above his/her thighs and place your fist midway between the bottom of the sternum (breastbone) and the navel.  Put your other hand over your fist and execute a series of 5-10 sharp compressions pushing IN AND UP.  Repeat the process (lifting the chin, moving the tongue, feeling for and/or removing objects from the mouth) repeating abdominal thrusts as often as necessary until the object is dislodged.  If the object is dislodged, and the victim is not breathing, begin CPR if you are trained in that technique. Otherwise, wait for an ambulance. If the victim is pregnant or obese:  The process is the similar, except for the placement of your fist and the direction of the thrust.  Instead of using abdominal thrusts, you will use chest thrusts, placing your fist against the middle of the sternum (breastbone), and thrusting DOWNWARD INSTEAD OF UPWARD!  If the victim is unconscious, chest thrusts are performed, similar to those used in the CPR process. If the victim is a young child or an infant:  For children over the age of one you will use the same technique as for a normal adult, except you will use less force in thrusting to avoid damage to the child’s fragile ribs, bones and organs. OR  If the child is 1 year of age or less, sit down and rest the infant’s body, face down, along your forearm, using your own thighs to support YOUR forearms, and your hand to support the baby’s head.  Use the heel of your other hand to administer 4-5 rapid blows between the baby’s shoulder blades on his/her back.  Now use the hand supporting the baby’s head and your own hand to turn the child onto your other arm so that he/she is lying face up and use the index and Pagina 30 Work from home selling Amazon products middle finger of your free hand to perform 4-5 sharp chest thrusts on the center of the baby’s breastbone.  Then turn the baby over onto the opposite forearm again so that he/she is facing downward and repeat the first series of back blows.  Continue this process until the object is dislodged.  When attempting to remove an object from the throat of an infant or young child be careful to grasp the object firmly and do not ‘sweep’ the throat or push on the object, or it may become lodged more firmly in the throat. If you are alone and you begin to choke, you can perform this maneuver on yourself:  Make a fist with one hand and place it in the middle of your body above the navel and below the breast bone  Grab your fist with the other hand and push sharply IN AND UP.  If this does not dislodge the object, press your upper abdomen firmly over the back of a chair, a railing, the edge of a table or another stable object and again thrust up and inward until the object is dislodged. Do not be surprised if the choking victim vomits after the Heimlich Maneuver is performed. If the choking episode was lengthy, you should take the victim to a hospital emergency room for examination. Depending on the length and severity of the choking episode, the choking victim may need to be taken to a hospital emergency room. Shock and Electrocution Check extension cords, plug strips and surge protectors frequently to be sure the cords are not frayed and that they are in good condition. If they are not or if you have had these cords or strips for more than 10 years, REPLACE THEM and throw away the old ones. If you have children in the house, place plastic safety plugs in all electrical outlets so that the child cannot stick little fingers in the outlet and be injured. Keep electrical cords and appliances away from small children and pets and do not leave children unattended around these devices or appliances. Tuck cords away behind furniture or in areas where a child or pet will not find them and be tempted to put them in their mouth or chew on cords. Do not operate or use appliances or electrical devices around, near or IN the water. Keep these items away from sinks, tubs and other sources of open water. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 31 Guns, Knives, Sharp Objects Keep young children, pets and mentally handicapped adults away from guns, knives and other sharp objects. Store guns in LOCKED cabinets and do not let anyone other than a responsible adult see where you are storing the key. Store knives, scissors and other sharp objects out of reach of children. That includes garage and garden implements. Water and Drowning If you have a pool, be sure your yard is fenced in (this will improve your insurance rates and ensure that no child can get into the pool without supervision). Use and store folding ladders so that children cannot climb into the pool unattended. Cover the pool when it is not in use. Take all chairs, tables or other pieces of furniture away from the side of the pool when it is not in use so children cannot use these to climb up and get into the pool. Teach even the youngest child about water safety! Do not leave very young children around open sources of water without supervision (that goes for sinks or tubs with standing water, as well as kiddy pools and large pools). Be sure that every adult and teenager in your house is trained in CPR. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association recommend that the Heimlich Maneuver be used only as a last resort for drowning or near drowning victims, and only have CPR has been tried several times without success. General Safety Go through your apartment or your house at least once a month and LOOK for things that may cause injury or create a hazard. Examine the pictures on your walls and be sure that they are well fastened and that nails or picture hangers are not loose. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 32 Look at electrical cords and be sure that they are secured and hidden so no one will trip on them and so that children or pets will not be tempted to chew on them. If you have young children in your house, look for places they might climb to explore and try to change furniture location so that they cannot use a chair, sofa or other piece to climb up onto a cabinet, hutch or other unit. Be sure all your chemicals and any poisonous materials are stored well above the reach of children and away from food (lock them in cabinets if you can). Check for broken stairs, railings, and stones on walkways, etc. Be sure your medicines are not kept beside your bed or in open areas where children may get to them. Safety Checklist Item Store medicines Store and lock chemicals and poisons Store sharp objects in locked cabinets or out of reach Lock weapons in cabinets Store garage tools and chemicals appropriately Reduce areas where children can climb Check railings, steps, windows, doors, etc. to be sure nothing is damaged or broken Perform maintenance on stoves, chimneys etc Buy and learn to use fire extinguisher Store flammables properly Establish family fire escape plan Buy and install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (check them often) Change batteries twice a year Learn CPR and Heimlich Maneuver When Do You Need a Professional? If you live in a high crime area or you are unable to install your own security systems or perform normal safety maintenance on your home, find a professional and use their Pagina 33 Work from home selling Amazon products services to analyze your home or apartment and make the required repairs or install systems. Here are the things for which you may or WILL need professional assistance:  to check your chimney, fireplace or wood stove, and clean your chimney http://www.csia.org/homeowners.htm http://www.servicemagic.com/ext/862667?ef_id=1066:3:73eede1d3755c9 1ebd6c50850b25a245_557613257:XiInZEUJuzIAAE03DuwAAAAG:20060 718160912  to install a centrally monitored security system https://www.adt.com/resi/programs/search1/Offer/?pfx=paidsearch http://www.brinkshomesecurity.com/?code=773363 http://www.alarmpromotions.com/?SiteID=944346  to repair broken railings or stairs on decks, patios, walkways, interior staircases http://contractorslibrary.stores.yahoo.net/nahoimes.html http://www.mrhandyman.com/  to fix broken windows or locks or replace windows or doors http://yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?C=Window+Repair+&+Re placement&CID=521151&R=N&search=Find+It&SCS=1&SRC=promo12& QCID=4127808054679&VT=sch http://yellowpages.aol.com/main.adp?_dircity=New+York&_dirstate=NY&_ dirpid=&_diraddress=&_dirzip=10010&_dirlat=407387&_dirlong=%2d7398 15&_dirdma=&_diraction=taxonomy&_dircat=9  to fix roof problems or leaks or fix plumbing problems http://www.findaplumber.com/ http://www.nrca.net/consumer/find/ Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 34  to fix electrical problems or replaced wiring http://www.servicemagic.com/ext/272267?ef_id=1066:3:b0d3a33f32fb37c 408c9ac53f06a3ba1_586866377:gfXAeUUJuzIAAE5bgRoAAAAV:200607 18161914 http://necanet.dev.matrixgroup.net/PortalTools/DirConnection/Index.cfm  to install exterior security lighting or systems http://www.1800contractor.com/d.Electrical.ContractorSearch.12026.html?m=caxmgoogledirec&entry_point_id=623799 http://necanet.dev.matrixgroup.net/PortalTools/DirConnection/Index.cfm http://www2.monitronics.com/securitysolutions.aspx?source=google&kw=s ecurity+systems-ph\  to install wheelchair ramps, child proof gates http://www.thomasnet.com/products/wheelchair-ramps-93711836-1.html http://contractorslibrary.stores.yahoo.net/nahoimes.html  to install fences or gates around pools, ladders or security systems for pools http://www.servicemagic.com/category.Swimming-Pools-Spas-Hot-TubsSaunas.10520.html?m=googleadwords&entry_point_id=1110&ef_id=1066 :3:23b952f87f90dc7280307327a18470b0:wahmSEUJuzIAAFEqnmQAAA AN:20060718163702 http://www.nspi.org/ConsumerResources/index.htm  to check general safety in your home http://www.inspectorlocator.com/ Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 35 How Can Community & Civil Service Help? When you consider home safety and security, you don’t have to go it alone. If you don’t feel you can assess your own home, consider the resources right in your own community. Call your local fire department for a scheduled assessment of your home for fire safety. You can also talk to them about programs that may offer free smoke detectors or fire extinguishers to underprivileged or low-income families. The local fire department can also help you plan the best escape routes in your home for your family. You don’t have to go it alone! Join your local neighborhood watch association. If you don’t have one, talk to the sheriff or police department about starting one in your neighborhood. These organizations post signs in neighborhoods that participate and neighbors work with others in their community to watch for signs of burglary, vandalism and other problems in their neighborhood. IT HELPS! Ask your local police department or sheriff’s department to survey your home and make suggestions to crime-proof your house and grounds. Home Review, Safety & Security Plan If you haven’t already started your home review during the time you have been reading this book, you should start now. Here are some reminders of the things you have to check. Don’t forget to add your own items for things that may be unique to your home and its security and safety conditions. Perhaps you have a handicapped person living in your home and you have to think about egress for wheelchair bound adults in case of fire. Maybe you have a lot of windows and glass in your home and your security considerations are greater than the average family. Pagina 36 Work from home selling Amazon products Add your own items to the list. Now schedule time to walk around your house and assess safety and security concerns. Be sure you look at each room with a new pair of eyes. Consciously LOOK for violations and problems and write a list of these items. Then prioritize them for attention. Schedule a date for your local police and fire department to review the conditions in your home and add their recommendations to your list. Security Checklist Item Entry/Exit Doors Considerations Check lock mechanisms (sturdy locks?) hinges (can they be taken off to gain entry?) Interior locks on doors to protect those inside Solid lock mechanisms, drapery or blinds Visible from windows or stored appropriately Outside lighting to deter thieves? Bushes, shrubs and trees trimmed or removed from around windows and doors? Newspaper, free circulars, mail, snow or grass maintenance, lights and radio or TV on timer, car in driveway Alarm devices or systems installed as appropriate? Doors to Rooms Windows Valuables Outside Vacation Alarm System Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 37 Item Considerations Police Department Recommendations Room or Outside Area Recommendation Safety Checklist  Item Store medicines Store and lock chemicals and poisons Store sharp objects in locked cabinets or out of reach Lock weapons in cabinets Store garage tools and chemicals appropriately Reduce areas where children can climb Check railings, steps, windows, doors, etc. to be sure nothing is damaged or broken Perform maintenance on stoves, chimneys etc Work from home selling Amazon products Comment Pagina 38  Item Buy and learn to use fire extinguisher Store flammables properly Establish family fire escape plan Buy and install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (check them often) Change batteries twice a year Learn CPR and Heimlich Maneuver Comment Fire Department Recommendations Room or Outside Area Recommendation Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 39 Now, use all the information you have gathered to put your plan together: Room or Area Item Priority Complete Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 40 Periodic Review of Home Safety & Security Remember that you must review your home periodically to assess any required changes. After your first home review and plan has been implemented:  Put a date on your calendar to retrieve your plan and update it every six months.  Review the plan and add any new items or concerns. These new issues may emerge because you add new furniture, appliances, jewelry, furs, weapons, or recreational items (pools, video games, pool tables) to your home. New concerns may also emerge if you have long-term visitors or new occupants (newborn children, aging parents, handicapped adults, etc).  You should also consider any renovations you have undertaken in that time. Do they add more security concerns or fire hazards? For example, perhaps you had old windows replaced and you now have more window area. Is it possible that thieves may find it easier to see inside your home and you may have to consider changing your security configuration. Maybe you added a new wood burning stove to your family room? What new fire concerns do you have now? Look at home safety and security as a continuous issue, rather than as something you can address once and then ignore for the remainder of the time you live in your home or apartment. Become an Advocate for Home Safety & Security You took the time to think about home safety and security. It is also important to pass on this philosophy to your children, to the other adults in your home and to neighbors and friends. Pagina 41 Work from home selling Amazon products Become an advocate for home safety and for home security! If you are in a neighbor’s home and you notice a frayed extension cord, point it out to them. If you believe that they are taking a risk by leaving their medicines on the kitchen table for their young children to find, mention it politely or ask, “are you afraid your kids might get into that medicine?”, and see what they say. Sometimes all you have to do is to nicely point out the issue and you will find your friend raising an eyebrow in concern and taking your warnings to heart. Offer to watch your neighbor’s home and take in their mail while they are away on vacation! Teach your child about safety at a young age. When you leave a teenager home alone, be sure he/she understands what to do if someone comes to the door, how to contact you while you are away, when to call 911, what to do in case of fire, etc. Remind your child never to tell a caller that they are home alone but rather to say that their parent cannot come to the phone right now and ask to take a message. Teach your child about personal and home safety and instruct them never to take medicine that is not prescribed for them, never to play with guns or knives, never to take dangerous risks or use appliances or tools they have not been trained to operate. Summary We have come to the end of this book. Let us leave you with these reminders: It is important to focus on safety and security. If you are aware of your surroundings and what may pose a threat to the safety or security of your family, you have conquered the first obstacle of safety. The source of most accidents, injuries and robberies is inattention. People are robbed because they are careless about security, or they are injured because they do not pay attention to the things that may pose a hazard in their home or in their life. Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 42 With proper precautions and safety guidelines, everyone will be safer and happier, but you should not frighten your children or anyone else so much that they are unable to live a normal life. If you approach your family and personal security with an eye toward maintenance and attention, you will be fine. Don’t let your home fall into disrepair or ignore broken items. Be cautious when using fire, gas, electricity, tools or appliances. Secure your home when you are away and when someone is home alone and consider self-installed or professionally installed security systems if you live in high crime neighborhood. Ask your local police and fire department to help you analyze your home for safety and security and implement their recommendations. With care and attention, you can provide a safe, healthy home and environment for yourself and your family! Work from home selling Amazon products Pagina 43