Keep your home from being an easy target Protect your home by discouraging intruders from making it their next target. Burglars are less likely to victimize a house that looks occupied or protected by a security system.

When you're on vacation or away from home

Put lights, stereo or TV on a timer to give the appearance that someone is home. Secure sliding glass doors with pins to prevent both horizontal and vertical movement. Don't stop your mail or newspaper deliveries; it signals you're away. Instead, have a neighbor pick up your deliveries. Ask a neighbor to park his or her car in your driveway to give your home the appearance that someone is there.

Keeping yourself safe at home

Lock doors and windows when you're home alone. Forty percent of home invasions occur because a door or window was left unlocked. Look through your peephole viewer to see who's there before opening the door. Always request identification from salespeople or repairmen before you let them into your home. List only your first initial and last name in the phone book. Fix broken locks or windows and install deadbolts on doors leading outside. Replace all locks immediately after moving into a new home.

Keeping your valuables safe

Store high-value items such as jewelry, furs and firearms in a small closet with a solid core door, a non-removable hinge and a deadbolt lock. Keep important papers, valuable jewelry and large amounts of cash in a safe deposit box. Engrave your valuables with your driver's license or social security number. Keep gift-wrapped packages hidden from outside view. When you purchase new electronic equipment, do not "advertise it." Break down cartons before discarding.

Fire is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the home, most often affecting children and the elderly. Additionally, fires account for over $2 billion in damage to homes each year. Take the following preventive measures to keep your home and family safe from fire.

Fire prevention tactics

Fires can begin anywhere, but two areas in your home pose the biggest fire threat - the kitchen and the garage. You can reduce your risk of fire in these vulnerable places with the following precautions:

• Use only UL(Underwriter's Laboratories)-listed, ULC(Underwriter's Laboratories- Canada)-listed or FM (Factory Mutual)-approved appliances and tools.
• Check regularly for frayed or worn power cords or plugs, and replace them immediately.
• Don't operate appliances, switches or outlets with wet hands.
• Never plug in more appliances than a socket is designed to handle.
• Don't store flammable items over the stove.
• Turn pot handles inward so children can't pull them down.
• Keep a fire extinguisher on a wall nearby the stove.
• Keep areas around stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers clean to prevent dust particles from igniting.
• Keep trash and other items away from the furnace or water heater, preferably stored in sealed containers. Check heating equipment annually.
• Store gasoline and other flammables in tight metal containers, away from the house - never near heating equipment or a pilot light.

Install smoke detectors

Most deaths from fire occur when people are sleeping. Smoke detectors are an important and effective tool. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you install one smoke detector outside each bedroom, and on all levels of your home. Remember to test all your smoke detectors at least once a month.

Install a monitored fire detection system

A monitored smoke detector not only sounds an audible alarm, but it automatically sends a signal to a monitoring center which can quickly dispatch the fire department. Monitored smoke detectors provide more complete protection, whether you're home or away.

Keep a fire extinguisher handy

A fire extinguisher can help you control a small fire and prevent further damage. A multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher labeled A-B-C is effective for most types of fires and is a must for every home. Other types of fire extinguishers designed for fighting specific types of fires are especially useful in the following areas of your home:

• In the den or living areas - Type A for use on ordinary combustibles such as paper, cloth, wood, rubber and many plastics.
• In the kitchen or garage - Type B for flammable liquids such as oils, gasoline, kitchen grease, paints and solvents. In the basement or workroom.
• Type C for electrical fires such as wiring, fuse boxes, motors, power tools, appliances and electronics.

Plan your escape route

In the event of a large, uncontrollable fire, your best defense is a quick escape. You should plan an escape route and practice it regularly with your family. An alternate route should also be planned and practiced, in case the main route is blocked by fire.

Protect your child with these common sense guidelines:

Teach your children about personal safety at a young age so they can better protect themselves.

Home Alone?

In the event that you need to leave an older child alone at home, be sure that he or she understands the following safety rules:

• How to reach you: your child should know your cellular phone and/or pager number, and/or the phone number of the place you are going (work, school, restaurant, etc.).
• How to reach others who can help if you are unavailable, or until you can get home: your child should know the phone numbers of several neighbors, friends and/or family members.
• How to call 911 in an emergency.
• How to get out of the house in case of fire.
• Don't ever let anyone in the house, even someone who claims to be a policeman.
• Never tell a caller you are home alone; tell them that your parent can't come to the phone right now.

Teach your children about personal safety at a young age so they can better protect themselves.

Map out a route to and from school and walk it with your children. Make sure they follow this same route every day unless they have your permission to go another way. Find out if your school has an attendance call-back program to let you know if your child does not arrive at school. Your child should carry some form of identification; for example, a laminated ID card with his or her name, complete address, telephone number and two or more emergency contact people and their phone numbers. Keep up-to-date records on your child, including a recent photo, a lock of hair wrapped in plastic, age, blood type, height and weight, date and location of last dental x-rays, distinguishing marks, eye color and any other identifying characteristics.

Over a million cases of poisoning are reported each year, most of them affecting children. Protect your child from Accidental Poisoning with these common sense guidelines:

Protect your family against accidental poisoning.

To help reduce the risk of accidental poisoning in your home, take these simple precautions:

• Never refer to medicine as candy; it can confuse young children.
• Don't take your medicine in front of young children who may not understand its use.
• Never give or take medicine in the dark.
• Don't leave children alone with medicine. If you are interrupted while giving the medicine, take it with you.
• Use products with child-safety caps.
• Pour old medicines down the drain or toilet and rinse liquid medicine containers before disposing.
• Keep syrup of ipecac on hand to use to induce vomiting in case of accidental ingestion.
• Keep the phone number of the Poison Control Center near the phone.

Keep all drugs, chemicals and personal care products in their original containers, not in bottles or bowls that children associate with food.

Don't store food and household products together. Be especially cautious during a change in your family's routine, such as vacation, moving, arrival of a new baby or house guests, as these are times when accidental poisonings are most likely to occur.

If you suspect poisoning, check for these signs:

dizziness, drowsiness odor on breath open bottles or spilled container vomiting, nausea or abdominal pain difficult or shallow breathing hyperactivity, irritability

Check to see if the victim is breathing.

• Loosen clothing around the neck, and any other tight articles.
• Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
• Cover victim with a blanket.
• Do not give food, drink, alcohol or drugs.
• Save and give doctor poisonous substance, its container and label.

Unfortunately, crime can happen to anyone, anywhere. But you can help reduce your risk of becoming a victim when you're outside your home with these common sense guidelines:

Street Smarts

Be alert to your surroundings - especially after dark. If you're walking alone after dark, stay in well-lit areas as much as possible. Walk with confidence, in a direct and steady pace. Potential assailants look for people who appear vulnerable. Walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic. Walk close to the curb avoiding doorways, bushes and alleys where someone could be hiding. If you suspect you're being followed, walk quickly to a lighted area where there are other people. If a car appears to be following you, turn and walk in the opposite direction across the street. Prepare yourself with a defensive plan-- before an attack occurs.