Safety Tips

Preventing Fires

Keep your home free of clutter, trash piles, and other accumulated items. Use space heaters, particularly kerosene heaters with caution. Barbecuing on porches, roofs, or indoors is unsafe and is a City fire code violation with possible fines. Make sure your electrical system is in good order. Check all appliances for frayed spots. Do not overload your circuits. If your fuses or circuit breakers are continually shutting off power, the system is overloaded. Do not put too many plugs into one outlet; this may cause a fire.

There should be two means of exit from each living unit. Know the location of all the fire extinguishers and fire alarms in the building. Ask your landlord to provide a smoke alarm or purchase one yourself. If you feel that your home is not reasonably safe from fire, advise your landlord, Fire Department, or City Building Inspector.

Crime Prevention

Ask the landlord to install new locks when moving into a house or apartment. If the landlord is not willing to change the locks to your satisfaction, ask if you can make the change at your expense and provide him/her with a key in case of an emergency. Do not leave extra keys where they can be easily found. Use deadbolt locks (especially those with a key) or sliding barrel locks on all doors to the outside. Install chain locks as an added precaution. For your garage, cellar, or other utility doors, use crossbars and hasp locks. Do not use cheap locks or spring-snap locks; they are easily opened. Make sure all windows, including cellar windows, are locked.

Mark your valuables with a driver's license number or other identifiable mark. If you cannot prove ownership of a stolen item, the police will not release it to you. A well lit house and garage is an excellent burglar deterrent. At night, leave a couple of lights on inside the house. When you are away, do not leave any notes saying when you will return. One of your most important ways of protecting your home is to know your neighbors. Make them fully aware of your living habits such as who comes and goes and when. If you notice a stranger doing something out of the ordinary, call the police immediately.

Preparing for Extended Vacations

When leaving for an extended time, consider some basic precautions:

• Register your vacation with your city or county police. They will watch your home while you are gone. This is especially true during Semester and Spring Break.
• Cancel daily deliveries of mail and newspapers or arrange for someone to pick them up.
• Keep a couple of lights on in the house or install an automatic timer to turn them on.
• Do not close your curtains.
• Ask a neighbor and the police to watch your home.
• Turn your telephone bell down.
• Arrange to have grass mowed or snow shoveled.