Holmes Security Blog

Christmas Fire Safety

Dave Foster — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:35:12 +0000

This is the time when Americans decide to buy a Christmas tree, pull out all the old strings of lights, put up the worn-out decorations and plug forty-seven strings of bubble lights into the single electric outlet under the picture window. Please be safe this holiday season.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year hospital emergency rooms treat more than 8,000 people for injuries such as falls, cuts and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in more than 400 fires annually, resulting in personal tragedies and injuries, and an average of more than $17 million in property loss and damage.

Fire safety tips:
• Test your smoke detectors.
• Keep candles or matches away from other decorations and draperies, and out of the reach of little hands.
• Don’t overload electrical outlets.
• Replace old bulb sets with mini-lights.
• Electric space heaters are safe when used according to directions, but don’t allow furniture or decorations to sit too close. Again, be careful to not overload electrical circuits.
• Do not use candles on or near the tree.
• Dry trees and wreaths burn like a torch.
• Check all lights for frayed or damaged cords, and replace if necessary.
• Never use lights that have an empty socket.
• Turn off all holiday lights prior to leaving your home or going to bed.
• Use weatherproof outdoor lights and cords for outdoors.

Dave Foster — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:58:33 +0000

October 3-9 is Fire Prevention Week. To save your home from a dangerous flare-up, follow these tips: Clean lint from your dryer after every load; keep flammables, like drapes, at least 3 feet from space heaters; check lamps for frayed wires; and make sure not to overload outlets and power strips. And, of course, install quality smoke detectors.

Battery powered smoke detectors are good – they’ll make noise and will probably alert you if you are home, and if you have changed the batteries. Monitored smoke detectors are better – not only will they alert you, but they’ll alert our Central Station, and we’ll dispatch the fire department. And they work even if you are not at home! And there is no additional charge to your monthly monitoring rate! And there is no reason to delay – call us today!

New Commercial

Dave Foster — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:20:33 +0000

We’ve recently posted our latest TV commercial to YouTube (or you can see it conventionally over WECT-TV Channel 6 out of Wilmington). We were fortunate to have been able to enlist the aid of two local professionals – DellMarie Pittman and Bo Thorp – to star in the production. They were great.

Security is serious business, and we’ve been at it for 47 years now. We’re proud to say that we have offices in Fayetteville and Wilmington, NC, as well as the only local, UL rated Monitoring Center in eastern North Carolina. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Take a look at the video, and let us know what you think.

Protect Yourself

Dave Foster — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:00:55 +0000

The Fayetteville Police Department recently issued an alert concerning the rash of door-to-door alarm sales. It was appropriately titled “Protect Yourself From Fraud“.

Take a moment to read this alert, and understand that the alarm industry is highly regulated. All representatives must be licensed. If you are approached by one of these door-to-door alarm salespeople, call your local law enforcement office and place a report. If you decide to talk to the representative, ask to see their alarm license. Before making any decision, at least check the company’s rating through the Better Business Bureau.

More information can be found at the Fayetteville Police Department’s website “Be The Badge“.

If the glove doesn’t fit…

Dave Foster — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:42:10 +0000

While doing yard work the other day, I discovered a pair of gardening-type work gloves between the bushes in my front planting bed and my house. You know the type of gloves, cloth on one side with a rubberized, non-slip palm. I knew the gloves weren’t mine, and I knew they didn’t belong to my wife or daughter. Would they do yard work? No way.

My initial thought was that someone had tried to open a window and gain access to my house. In my mind, I pictured the would-be burglar being startled by a vigilant neighbor, and dropping the gloves as they ran off. Who knows? All I’m sure of is that I found a pair of gloves – not mine – in a strange location at my house. And suddenly, I felt very vulnerable.

Sure, I have an alarm system, and it’s monitored. But there are other things I could do to make my home even safer. Little, common sense things. Like making sure my windows are locked, and making sure my deadbolts are in place. And, like making sure my bushes are cut low enough so that an intruder can’t hide behind them. I’ve been meaning to cut them – honest I have. There’s nothing like a little common sense, and a little incentive to get the job done!