Holiday Safety Tips

 

 

 

 

Holiday safety tips for your home

 

statistics clearly show that criminal activity increases during the holiday period and it is therefore imperative to take the right precautions and not let your guard down, “says Richard McGhee, Sales and Marketing Director of ADT Security, South Africa.

• Ensure that your alarm is in working order, test your alarms at least 2 weeks before going away
• Be discreet when preparing to go away, park cars behind closed doors, if possible in the garage
• Never leave a message on the answering machine stating that you are out of town
• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby key holders, in case of an emergency
• Inform you neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property
• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbour or friend to collect your post, a bulging post box is a dead giveaway that you are not at home
• If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly
• Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home
• Ensure that all your outside locks are a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks 
• Never leave a key on the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock 
• Having security gates  fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure 
• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail, make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically
• Full fencing and a sturdy gate are good deterrents
• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer
• Do not leave tools like ladders or spades outside, as they can be used to break into your house
• Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage burglars

 

Travelling Safety Tips 

Travelling at Christmas time, particularly by car can be stressful. But there are several safety precautions you can take that will ward off potential problems.

• Take a look at your car, make sure that you have a spare tyre that is properly inflated to the correct pressure
• Check that you have a wheel spanner and jack in your tool kit
• Check all your tyres for sufficient tread and pressure
• Make sure your windows are clean
• Make sure your battery is properly charged
• Find a quiet stretch of road to test your brakes before you take the trip
• Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before a long journey
• remember that a few drinks the night before can remain in your bloodstream for several hours and can affect your driving ability
• Make sure you have blankets and a first aid kit in the car
• A flashlight if you are travelling in the dark
• Ensure that your cellphone is fully charged, even better to invest in a car charger

We hope these tips are useful, have a safe journey and a festive holday season!!!

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