School is back in session: are your children properly prepared on how to stay safe? Even if back to school this year is in person or virtual, your home security system is a key component in protecting you and your loved ones. With children potentially learning remotely with parents working in person, indoor security cameras and systems can help keep them safe. At AmeriGuard, we make it easy to protect you and your children.
We know back to school can be a busy and stressful time for parents, however, your home safety checklists should not take a backseat because of this. Here are tips to consider to keep your family safe and secure before and after school.
Keeping Children Safe After School
- Keeping your kids safe starts with planning. Use your home security cameras as a way to keep your family connected before and after school. Our security systems include features like remote viewing, which allows you to confirm that your child made it home safely with live video.
- Choose an emergency contact for your child to call if they cannot reach you. This step has become increasingly important as children have access to personal cell phones. This person could be a family member, close friend or trusted neighbor. For additional security, their information should be on file with your children’s school as well.
- Teach your children how to assess your home and situations before entering. Guide them to look for signs like open doors, broken windows, missing or torn screens or your security alarm activated. If they see signs like these, they should call you or go to a trusted neighbor’s home instead.
- While it may be tempting for your young ones to post about being home alone, it is safest for them to say nothing about it at all. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your children and home both safe at once.
- Utilize your home security cameras when someone knocks at the door. This combined with our mobile security app will allow you to see exactly who was at the door. When children are home alone, the safest option is to never open the door for any person. It’s important for children to be taught that there is no one way that dangerous people look and that even people you know may be suspicious.
- Have a set routine or schedule in place. When your day-to-day routine becomes the norm, feelings of safety and security will increase. Your child’s route home, arrival time and after-school routine should be established and completed with a check-in with you. This can look like a call or text, or a simple wave at an indoor security camera. You can utilize your security cameras and alarm monitoring app to be notified with video of your child coming home, or just when a door opens or closes.
Utilizing Your Home Security System to the Fullest
- Including smart locks in your home security system is a great way to increase security at home. These can be added on to any package of your choosing and can be controlled right from your phone. This helps by allowing you to lock and unlock your door, which is especially helpful in case your child forgets either way.
- Teach your children how to properly use and arm your home security system. Your child should know what to do if the alarm goes off and what to do until a dispatcher arrives. You should have a plan in place to where your child can go in case of emergency, like a trusted next-door neighbor’s home.
- Have a plan in place for emergency situations. This includes having emergency contacts like your local authorities and when they should be called. Discuss what steps are needed during an emergency. Explain to your children what they should do during a power outage, incoming storm or activation of your home security alarm.
- Keep off-limit areas off-limits. Another way home security systems keep your children safe is by sending you notifications if someone accesses an area that should be off-limits when you are not at home. Protect your children from entering these off limit areas like liquor or medicine cabinets, gun safes or even a swimming pool.
Keeping your children and family safe is OUR number one priority. AmeriGuard is proud to say we have been protecting the Central Valley for over 30 years and is the top home security choice. We offer top-of-the-line home security systems, business security systems and the fastest call response time in case of an emergency. You can protect your home with top-rated security cameras, video doorbell cameras, 24/7 alarm monitoring and guard response for as little as $31.99 a month. For your free, personalized security quote, call us (559) 271-5984.