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May 2010

Posted by Leah

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Tuesday Tips: Camping safety

Ahh, the great outdoors! Fresh air and bubbling brooks and beautiful trees. What could be better than a camping trip solo or with the fam?

Well, there are a few hassles: biting and stinging insects; a blazing sun; impure water; campfire dangers; wild animals…So play it safe and keep these tips in mind.

* Bugs are more than a nuisance; they carry diseases and can even cause an allergic reaction. Keep bugs away by wearing insect repellent and carry necessary medical supplies. You might consider citronella candles or commercial bug repellent for your campsite.

* Keep your distance from wild animals, even the cute ones. Sure, that raccoon looks adorable and that deer is beautiful, but all wild animals have “wild” in their name for a reason: they are not domestic and don’t take well to humans approaching them; unpredictable behavior, even aggressive and violent, can follow.Most problems happen when we decide to feed them. So bring binoculars and enjoy the wildlife from afar.

* Beware all that slithers and crawls. For obvious reasons, you want to keep an eye out for snakes and spiders. Before sitting down on a rock, check where your fanny is landing and poke around in piles of leaves or sticks nearby before settling in for a rest. If you find yourself in a close encounter with a snake, back away slowly.

* Take care in the sun. Nothing ruins a holiday like a painful sunburn. Wear sunblock and reapply often. Hats and sunglasses are also a must.

* Don’t hike alone. If you are hurt, someone needs to be with you and be able to help–you should even tell others where you and your partner are going. Carry plenty of water and food. And a GPS never hurt!

* Keep your kids in sight. Curiosity can lead them to stray, so give them a whistle to wear so they can make loud noise if lost. Also, have a family meeting beforehand to set our safety rules and agree on a place to meet if you are separated.

* Be safe around fire. Keep it in a fire ring, don’t pour propellants on it, and don’t leave it unattended.

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Posted in: Tuesday tip

May 2010

Posted by Jason

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Monitronics smoke monitoring prevents fire

One of the most gratifying parts of working at Monitronics is the stories of tragedies prevented. This week, we had just such an event that I want to share. Because of our monitored smoke protection, a near-fire was averted in a customer’s home, something that could have destroyed her home and killed her five beloved cats.

On Monday around 2 p.m., a fire alarm came into our Monitoring Station from the Shelly Kitchen residence in Fresno, California. Our second-shift operator Francisco Galicia responded by calling the Kitchen residence, but got no response. He dispatched the Fresno County Fire Department immediately. They arrived and found the dishwasher was the cause; a plastic part had fallen on the the heating element, which was smoldering and would have caught on fire.

Later on Monday, Mrs. Kitchen called our Customer Service department in tears to thank us for saving her home and her cats. She had cancelled her service at one point, but came back to Monitronics to ensure that her pets would be safe when she traveled.

“It’s so important for me to have control over my house and the monitored protection gives that to me,” she said. “I’m so happy with Monitronics. I want to express my gratitude for saving our home and our cats with such fast response Monday.”

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Posted in: Home Security

May 2010

Posted by Jason

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Tuesday tips: Prevent child drowning

Child drownings are devastating and preventable–drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages one to 14.

Things like pool fence laws have helped lower the numbers since the 1970s. While there are no federal pool fence laws in place in the US, several states, including New York, Florida, California, and Arizona, have their own individual ones. Some municipalities have their own laws, as well, and the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act governs public pools. (Side note: you can petition for stricter pool safety. Read about it at the Pool Safety Council.)

But even if every pool had a fence, child drownings would not stop. These are a few safety tips to follow:

Adults need to be present and paying attention when young children are in the pool, bathtub, or playing around water. Put down the iPhone, don’t mow the lawn, set aside the margarita and watch closely. Alcohol in particular impairs your ability to effectively monitor kids.
Get your kids in swimming lessons early. Some places even offer “mommy-and-me” classes for infants. But be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics says that swimming classes should not be considered drowning prevention for children younger than four.
Get a barrier around your pool and teach your children to respect that boundary. Never prop the door open.
Keep a life jacket on your child while he or she is in the pool. “Noodles,” “water wings,” rafts, inner tubes and the like are not sufficient.
Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). You might save a child’s life in the time it takes emergency responders to arrive.

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Posted in: Home Security, Tuesday tip

May 2010

Posted by Leah

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Monitronics goes Wild West for MoniFest

Once a year, Monitronics takes time to show appreciation for its employees. This year, the company is going Wild West for MoniFest May 10-14, honoring all 800-plus employees with a week of games, contests, and surprises.

The fun started when Human Resources Director Sherrie O’Keefe joined Monitronics and threw a week-long event for the then-140 employees.

“MoniFest is about celebrating every employee, as each has helped our company achieve new accomplishments,” she said. “The tradition has been to build the the event around a theme and include a special t-shirt, the casual dress code, games, an ice cream social, and more.”

The t-shirt was designed by Edward Franco, Dealer Tech Support.

“I wanted to capture a Western feel, realistic, but fun,” he said. “I’m looking forward to all the events at MoniFest this year.”

Calendar of events

Friday, May 7: Judging of decorated lobbies (2 p.m.)

Monday, May 10: Hourly drawings (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Bingo, 3rd floor break room (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Popcorn & pickles, 3rd floor break room

Tuesday, May 11: Hourly drawings (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Ice cream social and root beer floats, 3rd floor break room (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Wednesday, May 12: Hourly drawings (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Games under the big tent: Horseshoes, scavenger hunt, target shoot, haystack hunt, and roping the bull
Nachos, 3rd floor break room (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Thursday, May 13: Hourly drawings (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Chili cook-off, big tent (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Friday, May 14: Hourly drawings (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Company picnic, big tent: DJ and talent show
Grand prize drawing

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors

May 2010

Posted by Leah

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Dealers’ code of conduct exceeds expectations

Monitronics operates through a network of authorized dealers. In a nutshell, that means that they sell and install alarm systems and we monitor them with our award-winning Central Station.

“Just who are these dealers and what can I expect?” you may ask yourself? Well, we snagged a few minutes of an expert’s time to find out. Bruce Mungiguerra, our VP of Field Services, is the man who oversees the quality of Monitronics dealers and he knows the process inside-out.

“When one of our authorized dealers knocks on your door, they are not only the face of their individual company name and brand, but also the face of Monitronics and you can expect certain things from them, like courtesy, honesty, and integrity,” he said. “They have been through some of the best training in the industry–I’ve got full confidence that they provide a great experience for our customers.”

Here are a few things you can count on:

Professional in-home security analysis, including an evaluation of the interior and exterior of the home.
Thorough sales presentation with a product demo and specifics of what each component will do to help protect the home.
Complete overview of the items included in your security package and what will take place when the technician arrives.
Explanation of the alarm monitoring agreement, terms, monthly monitoring rate, and any installation fees.
Professional installation, equipment training, and an overview of the system manual.
A home that is as clean as when the dealer arrived.
A dealer who is available to answer your questions after the sale and installation

If you don’t have a monitored alarm system from Monitronics, you can give us a call at 800-447-9239. We’ll get an authorized dealer out to your home to talk security, systems, and your peace of mind.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings