CPP Alarm And Video, Inc.

Crime Prevention Month and Halloween

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:45:59 +0000

October is Crime Prevention Month and also the month in which Halloween is celebrated. Learn how to celebrate both together.

Although children look forward to tricks, treats, and ghoulish garb, Halloween can be fraught with fright for parents, with candy given to their kids by strangers and a legion of masked and costumed trick-or-treaters at the door. However, following a few safety tips can ensure safe fun for kids and candy-givers alike.

The activities below focus on Halloween, which is celebrated in the last week of October. The efforts throughout the month generate enthusiasm for crime prevention so it can grow stronger and become more widespread.

To ensure that trick-or-treaters, you, and your house stay safe, remember the following tips.

Clear your yard and sidewalk of any obstacles or decorations that may be hard to see in the dark, lest someone go bump in the night.
Keep your house well lighted, both inside and out; you wouldn’t want to miss any particularly good costumes, would you?
Ask your Neighborhood Watch or local citizen’s group to haunt (patrol) your community.
Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police or sheriff’s department.

To make sure even the scariest costumes are safe, keep the following in mind when buying or designing one.

Try makeup instead of masks; it’s more comfortable and doesn’t obstruct vision the way masks can.
Check to ensure that costumes are flame-retardant so that young ones are safe around jack-o’-lanterns, candles, and other flames.
Keep costumes short to ensure that the only trip taken is the one around the neighborhood.
Look for brightly colored costumes, attach reflector strips to costumes and bags, and remind trick-or-treaters to carry glow sticks and flashlights.
If a costume involves any sort of fake weapon, make sure that it is made of a flexible material such as cardboard or foam. Or, avoid the whole problem of weapons by challenging your child to design a costume that is scary without one.

Keep in mind the next few tips to make sure your trick-or-treater’s night in the neighborhood will be safe and fun.

Older kids should trick-or-treat in groups; kids walking around alone are never as safe as those in groups, and especially not at night. Younger kids should be accompanied by a parent or trusted neighbor.
Review the route for trick-or-treating beforehand and set a time set when kids should be home. Also, have a plan if your child gets separated from his or her friends or from you.
Remind your children not to enter strange houses or cars.

After a successful and safe night around the neighborhood, remember that the treats still need scrutiny before anyone eats them.

Remind your children not to eat treats until they’ve come home. To help ensure this, feed them a meal or a substantial snack before they go out.
Check all treats at home in a well-lighted place. Be especially wary of anything that is not wrapped by the factory or that is no longer sealed.
Remind kids not to eat everything at once, lest they be green even without the makeup.

For even more tips, see our Playing it Safe on Halloween: Pointers for Parents (PDF) reproducible brochure.

To help kids get ready for trick or treating, we have several resources.

Be sure they read McGruff’s Halloween advice on McGruff.org.
Have them help McGruff carve a virtual jack-o’-lantern at McGruff.org and print a Halloween safety poster when they’re done.
Remember to give out McGruff’s Halloween Safety Tips and Maze (PDF) and McGruff’s Halloween Safety Quiz and Coloring Page (PDF) for a frighteningly fun (and safe) night.

It’s Fire Prevention Week! Protect Your Family From Fire!

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:39:49 +0000

National Fire Prevention Week Oct 9-15, 2011

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925.

Home Fires

One home structure fire was reported every 87 seconds in 2009.
On average, seven people died in home fires every day. Adults 65 and over face the highest risk of fire death.
In 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to 362,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, $7.6 billion in direct damage.

Escape Planning

According to an NFPA survey, less than one-fourth of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan (PDF, 640 KB).
Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, less than half actually practiced it.
One-third of Americans households who made and estimate they thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in there home would become life threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!

Smoke Alarms

Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. About one in five smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries.
Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 91% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 75% of the time.

Home Fire Sprinklers

Automatic fire sprinkler systems cut the risk of dying in a home fire by about 80%.
Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene.
Sprinklers are highly effective because they react so quickly in a fire. They reduce the risk of death or injury from a fire because they dramatically reduce the heat, flames and smoke produced, allowing people time to evacuate the home.

Cooking

Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated injuries, and was tied for the third leading cause of home fire deaths.
Unattended cooking was by far the leading cause of these fires.
Households using electric ranges have a higher risk of fires than those using gas ranges.
Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.
Nearly half (45%) of microwave oven injuries seen at emergency rooms in 2009 were scalds.
U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 155,400 cooking-related home fires each year between 2005-2009, causing an average of 390 deaths, 4,800 injuries and $771 million in direct property damage.

Heating

Fires involving heating equipment peak in December, January and February, as do deaths from these fires. Overall, homes fires and home fire deaths are also more common in the cooler months of the year.
Heating equipment was the second leading cause of all reported home fires and home fire deaths.
The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
Half of home heating fire deaths resulted from fires caused by heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.
U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 64,100 heating-related home fires each year between 2005-2009, causing an average of 560 deaths, 1,620 injuries and $904 million in direct property damage.

Smoking Materials

The risk of dying in a home structure fire caused by smoking materials rises with age.
In recent years, Canada and the United States have required that all cigarettes sold must be “fire safe,” that is have reduced ignition strength and less likely to start fires.
U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 18,900 smoking-relate home fires each year between 2005-2009, causing an average of 660 deaths, 1,270 injuries and $492 million in direct property damage.

Electrical

41% of home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment.
53% of home electrical fires involved other known types of equipment, including ranges, washers/dryers, fans and space heaters.
During 2005-2009, electrical distribution and lighting equipment was involved in the ignition of 23,400 home structure fires, on average, per year. These fires caused an average of 390 deaths, 970 injuries and $822 million in direct property damage.

Candles

On average, there are 35 home candle fires reported per day.
Roughly two-fifths of these fires started in the bedroom.
More than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle.
During 2005-2009, candles caused an average of 12,900 home fires, 140 home fire deaths, 1,040 home fire injuries and $471 million in direct property damage.

Copper Theft

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:00:14 +0000

Metal theft has reached epidemic proportions and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Don’t let this happen to your exposed assets!

The theft of Copper Backflow Valves and Air Conditioning Coils has continued to rise. The cost to repair or replace these damaged devices is horrific. Not withstanding the loss of water service or comfort to your Business or Home while you wait for the repair.

The US Department of Energy estimates that theft of copper wire alone, particularly at utility companies, costs Americans $1 billion per year.

Protect your copper!

Holiday Safety Tips

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 04:18:41 +0000

The holiday season is often a joyous time of giving, sharing and spending time with family and friends. Unfortunately, this time of year is also shared with a particularly high crime rate.

Home Safety

Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when leaving home, even for a few minutes.
Do not display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
Store gifts away before leaving for a holiday trip.
Make sure burglar alarms are in working order and contact information is up to date. Test smoke detectors.
Use only fire resistant ornaments on your holiday tree and make sure electric lights are in good working order with no frayed wires.
Do not leave holiday lighting on overnight and consider using timers.
Keep all outdoor security lighting on from dusk to dawn everyday.
Never hang a wreath or decorations on a door that would block the view from the peephole.

The Mail

When mailing gifts or gift cards to friends or relatives make sure to send them to a secure address and tell someone at the location that they are coming so they can monitor the mail for their arrival.
Request that all package deliveries require a signature and are not left on your door step.

While Shopping

Shop before dark when possible.
Try to coordinate shopping trips with a friend.
Never park in unlit parking areas, no matter how convenient it is.
Lock all packages in your vehicle’s trunk and hide any belongings that you leave in the vehicle.
Keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. When possible, pay for purchases with a credit card or debit card. Monitor your credit accounts for unauthorized activity on a regular basis.
Teach your children who to go to in case you become separated in a store, such as a store clerk or security guard. Children should never go into a parking lot alone.
Never leave your purse, wallet or cell phone lying in a shopping cart or stroller while shopping.
Take your keys out and lock your vehicle while fueling up.

Entertaining

When hosting a holiday party, have non-alcoholic beverages available for your guests.
Have alternate transportation available for intoxicated persons.
If you are hosting, you are responsible. Don’t let your guests drink and drive.

- Article adapted from Security Products

Safety Checklist for Apartments

Andy — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:42:47 +0000

Check Out Your Apartment

Does Your —

Entry door have a deadbolt lock and peephole?
Sliding glass door have a wooden rod in the track so it can’t be opened and pins in the overhead frame so it can’t be lifted out?
Landlord or building manager tightly control all keys?

For extra security, leave a radio playing or a light on while you are gone. Always tell neighbors and the building manager when you leave for a business trip or vacation.

Check Out Your Building

Is there some kind of control over who enters and leaves the building?
Are walkways, entrances, parking areas, elevators, hallways, stairways, laundry rooms, and storage areas well-lighted, 24 hours a day?
Are fire stairs locked from the stairwell side about the ground floor, so you can exit but no one can enter?
Are mailboxes in a well-traveled, well-lighted area and do they have good locks?
Are things well maintained–are burnt-out lights fixed properly, shrubs trimmed, trash and snow removed?

Check Out the Neighbors

Get to know your neighbors. Join or organize an Apartment Watch group so neighbors can look out for and help each other.
If you live in a large building or complex, think about a tenant patrol that watches for crime around the building, provides escort services for the elderly and handicapped, and monitors coming and going in the lobby.
Work with landlords to sponsor social events for tenants–a Sunday breakfast, a picnic, a Halloween Party.
Look beyond problems to root causes–does your building need a better playground, a social evening for teens, a tenant association, need landscaping, a basketball hoop?
Work with the landlord for changes that make everyone proud of where they live.

From the Sacramento County Sheriff

Home Security Tips

Andy — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:39:40 +0000

Have good outdoor lighting
Install a burglar alarm (interior motion sensors are a good second line of defense)
Have solid doors with strong locks and strike plates—sliding glass doors should have auxiliary locks to prevent them from being opened or lifted off the track
Install door viewers– don’t open the door without knowing who is there
Get involved in a Neighborhood Watch Program
Remove a burglar’s cover– keep hedges and trees trimmed away from your house
Get a dog—burglars tend to avoid houses that have dogs

What you need to know about Carbon Monoxide

Andy — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:55:13 +0000

What is CO (Carbon Monoxide)?

CO is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas producted when fosssil fuels do not burn completely, or are exposed to heat (usually fire) Electrical applicances do not produce CO.

These fuels include: wood, coal, charcoal, oil, natural gas, gasoline, kerosene and propane.