Safety ABC

Systems of home security introduced by the AN-Security will help you and your familyto feel safe at home. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of recommendations to provide your safety.

Protect yourself from fire. Fire is the biggest threat to any housing; it may smoulder for hours and then suddenly flare up. In order to minimize the possibility of fire, you must follow some precautions:

In case of fire call 911 immediately.
Strictly follow the rules of the gas equipment operation.
When you work with flammable household chemicals, follow the enclosed instructions.
Do not use open fire in the house.
Keep matches far from reach of children.
Do not store flammable liquids on a balcony of your apartment.
If you have a lock in your front door, which may be opened both from inside and outside, keep the key near the door, so that in case of fire each family member was able to get it and leave the house without delay.

Protect yourself from burglary. Any household, both in the city and in the countryside, may become an object of burglary. There are valuable things in every home, which attract burglars: TV-sets, computers, cash money, etc. The following recommendations will help you to protect yourself and your house:

If possible, install solid front doors, preferably with two types of locks.
Make sure that the front doors hinges were inside rather than outside (otherwise, the burglars may withdraw the hinges and pull the door from its frame).
For greater protection, put bars onto the basement and garage doors and basement windows.
Always close all doors and windows when leaving your house.
Install locks of the well-known manufacturers into the front doors.
Alarm systems are a reliable warning tool. Out of 10 convicted burglars 9 avoid houses, protected by means of security system.
Use stickers and signs, notifying presence of security systems in your house.
If you absent home for a long time, use a tome relay to enable and disable lamps, TVs and sound systems. This measure will make the impression that someone is at home.
Report all suspicious people or vehicles to the local police.
Get acquainted with your neighbors.
Avoid accumulations of letters, newspapers or advertising in your mailbox, so as not to attract attention of the burglars. If you are away for a long time, ask the post office to suspend your mail delivery and ask your neighbors or friends to take advertising from your mailbox.
Do not leave and do not place valuable things in a way that they are visible through the window, so as to not attract attention of thieves.
Leave the curtains slightly ajar, so that your house does not seem uninhabited.
Never open the door to a stranger! Put a peep-hole into the front door. Do not rely on the door chain – it s easy to break.
Ask the serving companies representatives, visiting your house, to provide an ID. If the ID is missing, do ot such people into your house and report this visit to the police.
If you are going for a long trip do not notify random people.
Thieves can always find your keys in the mailbox, under the door-mat and above the door. Do not make heir life easier.
Don’t write your address and name on the keys trinket, because this may lead the thief directly to your doors in case you lose your keys.
When placing a car on a parking-lot or for the servicing, do not hand over your apartment keys together with your car keys.
If the former owner has the keys to your doors, change the locks.

Protect yourself from gas poisoning. Unlike fires and burglary gas/carbon monoxide can be imperceptible for your family and home. If there are gas stoves, water heaters and other gas equipment in your house, be aware of this danger. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless; it causes the fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, which you mistakenly can take for influenza and other diseases. Young and elderly people, pregnant women and babies they are bearing, people with heart and lung diseases are subjected to the danger the most. Any fuel-burning equipment can work out carbon monoxide as a product of burning. All combustion gases should be securely removed, and there should be provided for the circulation of fresh air in the house. Regularly check your stove, fireplaces and water heaters. If there is a wood fireplace in the house, not less than once a year call a chimney-sweep. Make sure there is always access of fresh air and close the bolt only after full fire extinction. Do not leave in the garage, or other closed premises, a car with running engine for more than a few seconds, even if the garage door is open. Protect yourself in a voyage. Tourists are a favorite target of the criminals. At the airport:

Watch your luggage constantly, firstofall, alaptopandvaluables. The airport uniformed personnel should only be allowed to touch those.
Beware of minor incidents, e.g., if someone pushes you or spilt a drink on you, as that may be a theft preparation.
Keep your bag close to yourself, put your wallet into the inner pocket or use the secret pocket for the money.
Write down the content of the checked baggage and take your valuables into a plane.
Do not demonstrate your jewelry or other valuable belongings.

En route:

Clearly define the route before starting a voyage.
If you are using a rented car, before departure, make sure it is functioning properly and familiarize with all the necessary equipment.
Keep your luggage and valuables in the trunk, so that strangers do not see it.
Lock the car doors and park your car at the equipped parking-lots or, at least, in a well-lit place next to the entrance to the house.
Leaving the car even for a short time, shut down the engine and remove the keys from the ignition.

In the hotel:

Do not leave your luggage unattended.
Ask the hotel personnel not to pronounce your room number out loud, so that strangers might not hear it.
For emergency cases, make clear the whereabouts of the main and emergency exits and public telephones.
Leave valuables at home or keep them in a hotel’s safe.
When leaving the hotel, ask the hotel staff which places are considered to be safe to visit and which places should be avoided.
If somebody, introducing oneself as a hotel’s employee, shows up at you room-door, do not let him in right away, call the Reception and get a confirmation.
Do not keep your room key in full view or in a place accessible for strangers.

Safety ABC for elderly people. The statistics show that the older a person, the less likely he/she will become a victim of crime. Nevertheless, it would be reasonable to take some precautions, and first of all against fraud, which is the most likely risk for the aged people. Safety begins at home:

Install safe locks and latches to the doors and windows.
Do not leave the keys under the door-mat or in a mailbox.
Leave a spare set of keys with your neighbors.
If any workers or couriers show up behind your front door, ask their identity and call their employer, if something seems suspicious to you.
If you decide to order the alarm system installation, give preference to the system, protecting from burglary and fire.

Safety outdoor:

It is better to go for a walk with your family or friends, than alone.
Keep your bag to your body, and your wallet - in the inside pocket.
Do not have on you lump sums of cash or credit cards unnecessarily.
Order the transfer of your pension and other regular amounts directly to your bank account.
Keep the car doors locked, be careful in the parking lots and garages; if possible, park your car in the well-lit places.
Take a seat next to the driver or the door in public transport.
If someone or a situation around is annoying you, leave that place immediately.

Do not be fooled:

If something sounds too good to be truth - free of charge vacations, magic treatment, a profitable investment with no risk - do not trust such offers.
If someone would hurry you to sign quickly the insurance policy, the sale contract, etc., do not trust that person. Read all the text carefully and ask somebody you trust to look it through..

Make your neighborhood safer:

Report to the police all the crimes or suspicious activities.
Join in the activities which may change for the better your habitat; for example, supervise children, assist to the police.