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

Chrismas gatherings, Thanksgiving meals, and spending quality time with family members are a few of the traditions we cherish over the holidays. It’s a time for cheer, but the season also brings more safety risks. Fortunately, abiding by some basic recommendations and using an advanced security system at your Topeka property can improve safety during the holidays.

Are you traveling? Deter intrusions at your Topeka home with modern video cameras and automation

Venturing out to spend time with relatives is a holiday custom, but leaving your Topeka home vacant increases the risk of break-ins. But there is an answer. Modern home security systems permit you to monitor your house no matter your whereabouts with the latest surveillance. You may check real-time streams from your video cameras via the smart home app on your smartphone.

Top surveillance devices can even actively defend your home from prowlers. If a person gets within range, cameras will cast a light or generate a sound to scare them away. Here are a few more ways you can avoid intrustions when you’re away: 

• Set lights to activate at different moments to make your home seem inhabited
• Confirm that your home security signage is noticeable
• Make sure doors are locked and your alarm is on through the mobile app
• Don’t broadcast on social media that you’re traveling

Safeguard against holiday porch pirates in Topeka

For countless families, the holidays bring a constant wave of packages to the front door. Don’t attract prowlers by allowing them to sit on your stoop. Alternatively, get an instant update to your smartphone whenever a package shows up so you know to grab it. 

When you can, plan deliveries for when you’ll be present. When that’s not possible, ask a neighbor to collect them. You can open your door and temporarily deactivate your alarm from your mobile device. If a person is knocking on your door, you can talk to them with your doorbell camera’s bi-directional talk function. 

Follow established fire safety during the holidays in your Topeka home 

Decorative lights, candles, Christmas trees, and home-cooked meals are a part of the holidays, but they also put you at risk for fires. Here are some tips for how to circumvent them:

• Cooking fires rise during the holidays, particularlly at Thanksgiving. Keep a close eye on a crowded stovetop. Keep little ones away to avoid burns. Always observe manufacturer guidelines when using fryers.
• Keep Christmas trees hydrated and away from fireplaces and candles. Remember that trees grow more flammable as they dry.
• Avoid overburdening electrical outlets with extension cords and lights. Improper connections and faulty outlets are prone to sparks and may cause fires.
• Lit candles are enchanting but also hazardous around trees and decorations. Place them carefully and always extinguish flames when stepping out of a room.

Monitored fire alarms are a great way to enhance your protection. When safety devices like carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms integrate with your home’s security, you and your 24-hour monitoring specialists will be alerted whenever an alarm sounds, whether you’re on site or not.

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

Get all the tools you need to remain safe during the holidays and every day of the year from Vivint. Our Topeka smart homes give you modern features like custom automation, monitored environmental alarms and cameras with active deterrence. Contact us at (785) 369-9429 and give your loved ones the gift of better protection this holiday.