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

Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas gatherings, and spending special moments with family are a few of the activities we cherish during the holidays. It’s a time to celebrate, but the season also includes some unique safety risks. Luckily, abiding by some simple guidelines and using an advanced security system at your Newark residence can help ensure safety during the holidays.

Are you traveling? Prevent intrusions at your Newark home with advanced video cameras and automation

Venturing out to visit relatives is a cherished element of the holidays, but leaving your Newark house empty ehances the threat of break-ins. But there is a way to reduce the risk. Modern home security systems let you keep tabs on your home regardless of your location with the latest surveillance. You are able to check live footage from your video cameras via the smart home app on your mobile device.

The best surveillance tools can even actively safeguard your home from prowlers. If someone gets too close, cameras will beam a light or produce a sound to frighten them away. Here are a few more ways you can prevent break-ins when you’re traveling: 

• Set lights to come on at different intervals to make your home appear inhabited
• Ensure your home security sign is in clear view
• Make sure doors are locked and your alarm is set through the home security app
• Avoid broadcasting on social media that you’re leaving town

Protect against Chrismastime porch pirates in Newark

For numerous families, the holidays mean a steady wave of packages to your door. Avoid tempting prowlers by allowing them to sit outside. Instead, obtain an instant alert to your mobile device whenever something appears so you know to collect it. 

When you can, arrange deliveries for when you know you’ll be home. Alternatively, have a neighbor bring them in. You can disarm your system and open your door from your mobile device. If someone is at your door, you can speak to them via your video doorbell’s bi-directional talk function. 

Follow established fire safety during the holidays in your Newark home 

Christmas trees, candles, family meals, and decorative lights are popular during the holidays, but they also increase the risk of fires. Here are several tips for how to prevent them:

• Cooking fires increase during the holidays, particularlly at Thanksgiving. Always keep tabs on a crowded stovetop. Keep children at a distance to avoid burns. Be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines when using fryers.
• Keep Christmas trees watered and away from fireplaces and open flames, such as candles. Keep in mind that trees become more flammable as they dehydrate.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with extension cords and lights. Insecure connections and faulty outlets are known to spark and may cause fires.
• Burning candles are lovely but also risky around decorations and trees. Use them carefully and always extinguish flames when stepping out of an area.

Monitored fire alarms are an excellent way to enhance your protection. When safety devices like carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms link to your home security, you and your 24-hour monitoring agents will know whenever an alarm sounds, whether you’re on site or not.

Keep your family safe during the holidays with a Vivint smart home in Newark

Find all the equipment you need to stay safe during the holidays and every day of the year from Vivint. Our Newark smart homes offer advanced features like custom automation, monitored environmental alarms and video cameras with active deterrence. Give us a call at (973) 566-5423 and give your family the gift of better protection this holiday season.