10 Ways to Stay Safe When Living Alone
October 12, 2022 10:40 am
Setting off on your own for the first time is an exciting life change. However, the independence of living solo also requires you to be more aware of the safety risks. That’s why it’s vital to take extra measures to protect yourself from threats. Taking safety precautions as a single homeowner helps you deter intruders, respond to emergencies more effectively and gain greater peace of mind.
Living alone means you have plenty of space to enjoy as you please. However, it also means you don’t have another person around to provide you with help or backup right away. Luckily, there are things you can do for your single-person household to improve your overall safety. Whether you’re about to move into your own place for the first time or you’re a seasoned single homeowner, these safety tips for living alone will help you gain a better sense of security.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how to stay safe at home by teaching you various break-in prevention methods and safety precautions.
If you want to increase your home security and feel safer, contact us online or call us today at 781-275-4200 to talk with one of our experts!
1. Adopt Daily Safety Habits
Most people have a routine they go through day in and day out. Whether you brew a pot of coffee every morning, shower before work, or read a book before bed, your routine helps you maintain a sense of order and familiarity.
You can improve your home security and personal safety by implementing the following tasks into your daily routine:
- Lock all doors and windows.
- Turn on outdoor lights in the evening.
- Keep blinds closed at night.
- Retrieve mail during the day.
- Check your peephole before opening the door for visitors.
- Get your keys ready before approaching your door.
- Carry pepper spray or an alarm.
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Don’t walk alone at night.
When you build safety practices into your routine, they’ll eventually become second nature.
2. Get to Know Your Neighbors
Knowing who lives in your neighborhood can help you feel safer at home. Introducing yourself to your neighbors is a great way to learn about people within your community, and even if you don’t become best friends, you’ll be able to identify people around your neighborhood and pinpoint any unfamiliar faces or suspicious vehicles.
Having neighbors, you know, and trust also means gaining another line of defense against security risks. Your neighbors can keep an eye on your home when you’re out of town, alert you of any suspicious activity near your house and carry a spare key to access your home during emergencies.
3. Invest in a Home Security System
If you don’t have a security system in your home, it’s time to install one. Security systems keep you safe by monitoring your property for intruders and alerting you when a door or window is tampered with. You can also add motion-detection lighting to your yard as a deterrent.
The benefits of home security systems are threefold. Criminals are less likely to target houses with security systems, deterring them from your property. If someone does try to enter your home, your security system will alert you immediately, giving you time to act fast. Security cameras also provide footage of intruders, which law enforcement can use to catch criminals in your neighborhood.
4. Keep a List of Emergency Numbers
While everyone knows they can call for help by dialing 911, there are other important numbers you should know in case of emergencies:
- Local police department
- Hospital
- Poison Control
- Veterinarian
- Fire department
- Animal Control
- Family doctor
- Neighbors
Save all emergency contacts into your phone and create a physical list to keep somewhere accessible. Don’t rely on memory alone, which is more likely to fail you during a crisis or panic.
5. Consider Smart Home Solutions
Smart home devices are convenient and add another level of security to your home. Smart doorbells take videos of anyone who comes to your door and send the footage to you in real-time, whether you’re at home or on the move. Many of these devices also come with two-way communication, allowing you to speak to whoever is at the door.
You can also install smart locks into your home, allowing you to lock or unlock your doors from your phone. That means no more rummaging for your keys at night or worrying about unlocked doors while you’re out and about.
Smart home systems can also create the illusion that you’re at home when you’re not by automatically activating lights around the house to emulate human activity, making intruders less likely to break in.
6. Create Emergency Exit Plans
There may come a time when you have to exit your home fast. You can prepare for emergency situations like fires or break-ins by determining the best exit routes in your home and neighborhood. Once you identify all your options, draw a map you can refer to in the heat of the moment instead of relying on your memory.
7. Get a Dog for Protection and Company
If you’re looking for some extra company around the house, getting a dog is a great solution. Having a furry companion also serves as a constant source of protection. Dogs are known to defend their owners against attackers, scare off intruders and even warn owners of fires.
Some breeds are better protectors than others. If you’re looking for a good guard and loving family pet, consider these breeds:
- Bullmastiff
- Doberman pinscher
- German shepherd
- Akita
- Rottweiler
- Belgian Malinois
- Cane Corso
8. Don’t Announce Vacations or Travel Plans
While social media is great for sharing life updates and connecting with friends, it’s not the place to broadcast your travel plans. Announcing upcoming vacations lets people know when you’ll be away from home, giving criminals a prime opportunity to break in. Instead, stick to sharing vacation stories and photos online after you return from your trip.
9. Research Local Crime Rates
If you haven’t purchased your new home just yet, consider conducting extra research on potential neighborhoods. Look into local crime rates and choose the safest neighborhood with the lowest risk.
Even if you’ve already bought a place, you can still make the best security decisions for your home. For example, if package theft is common in your neighborhood, you can invest in a smart doorbell to monitor activity at your front door.
10. Prepare for Home Repairs
As a homeowner, you’re bound to hire professional help at some point for things like plumbing repairs, appliance installations or lawn maintenance. While getting help from service experts is undoubtedly beneficial, it also comes with the risk of inviting strangers into your home.
You can make sure your next service visit is a safe one by researching companies and reading reviews to get an idea of their trustworthiness. You can also take recommendations from friends and neighbors for dependable providers.
Once you’ve chosen a repair company, ask a friend or neighbor to keep you company while workers are at your house. Being around strangers is safer with a trusted person around, deterring those with bad intentions from making a move when you’re by yourself.
Contact Lexington Alarm Systems for Home Security Solutions
Feel safe while living alone when you invest in reliable and efficient security solutions from Lexington Alarm Systems. We’ve provided customers with top-quality security devices they can count on since 1972. We pride ourselves on delivering around-the-clock protection and emergency response within eight seconds.
Browse our residential security systems or contact us to learn more!
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