22
Jun 2010
Posted by Leah
1 comment

Tuesday tips: safety first for DIY work

Hammer and nailIt may be blazing hot in Texas, but that hasn’t stopped me from venturing outside for a little yard work and landscaping. Unfortunately, hedge-trimming and a momentary lapse in concentration meant I sliced my finger open; I’m lucky I didn’t cut it to the bone. I forgot two big safety rules: two hands on the power tools and take your time. It got me to thinking about what else I am forgetting as I go about with home improvements and DIY projects. Check out these basic tips and keep all your fingers and stay safe as you renovate.

DIY with safety in mind

  • Take your time. Rushing things can lead to careless mistakes. Like hammering your hand or cutting yourself with tools.
  • Get a first aid kit. If you do have an accident, this is essential. Check out the American Red Cross recommendations.
  • Get smart with power tools. This is a big one: Never leave it unattended. Store tools away from kids and pets. Follow instructions and read the owner’s manual. Make sure the tool is off before you plug it in. Inspect it for frayed cords or damage. Finally, look for UL mark on your tool; that means it’s been tested for fire, electric shock and other safety hazards.
  • Know your surroundings. What’s around you? People? Pets? Power lines? Be in-the-know.
  • Dork out. Disregard how you look and get on those safety glasses, earplugs, or hard hats. Take off jewelry that could catch in moving parts and roll up long sleeves.
  • Stay a beginner at heart. Even if you’ve done it a hundred times, maintain the caution and care you exercised the first time you did a DIY project. Too much confidence has led to more than one accident.
  • Know when to say when. Don’t let your pride keep you from calling in the professionals when a job is too big. Know your limits to stay comfortable and safe.

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16
Jun 2010
Posted by Leah
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Monitronics Greg Hurst wins CSAA Manager of the Year

Greg HurstMonitronics Monitoring Center Manager Greg Hurst today won Manager of the Year from the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA). This prestigious award recognizes Hurst as an outstanding manager who performs in the highest professional manner and makes significant contributions to the betterment of the alarm industry and the alarm profession. It also notes his exceptional service to his customers and community.

“Greg’s passion for excellence and his involvement and implementations are remarkable and make him a great leader worthy of this award,” said Mary Jensby, Director of the Monitronics Central Station. “In particular, we nominated him for his efforts to reduce false alarms, save operator time, increase response time, and build a close-knit team.”

Hurst, who received honorable mention for this same award in 2009, was acknowledged today at the CSAA Central Station Excellence Awards Breakfast Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“Team Monitronics actually won this award. My name may be on the trophy, but it was what we did that helped us stand out,” said Hurst. “I appreciate everyone allowing me to be a part of this team. We did great!”

These awards are sponsored by SDM Magazine.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors, Industry Happenings

15
Jun 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday tips: summer juvenile crime

teen crime - kid in handcuffsSummer time means longer days, more time outdoors, and summer vacation for kids. But time off from school actually increases juvenile crime: too much free time, lack of parental supervision, and warmer temperatures seem to be to blame.  These don’t appear to be violent in nature, but rather acts of vandalism and property crimes, like smashed car windows and vehicle robberies, graffiti tagging, and underage drinking.

But some incidents are more serious. Police in Portland, Oregon, broke up two teenage theft rings during last summer that were responsible for $10,000 of stolen goods.

What can you do? First, if you’re a parent, set strong boundaries and rules for your kids. Keep a curfew and know who their friends are. You can help keep you kids from getting themselves into trouble.

Everyone can take basic precautions to protect themselves: keep an eye out and report suspicious crime to local police. Try to park your cars in a garage if possible. And always turn on your monitored alarm system when you are not home and at night. Stay safe and happy summer!

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11
Jun 2010
Posted by Leah
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Fork it over for charity

Meatball on forkMonitronics has a strong history of community involvement and giving to those in need. Our Central Station, in particular, has been leading the way with volunteerism with Cell Phones for Soldiers, help during a toy drive, sorting donations for the nonprofit Metrocrest, serving food at the Salvation Army, and more.

That department has started another campaign this month to help the Salvation Army again: a fork drive.

“When we were serving food, we noticed that they didn’t have enough for everyone and lunch had to be paused several times to wash them. People were waiting and we realized they needed more,” said Mary Jensby, Director of the Monitronics Central Station. “Our employees have such a history of generosity and many have extra silverware sitting at home. It seemed like a great idea.”

Each floor of the Monitronics main tower and auxiliary building has a box for forks and the drive runs through early July.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors

09
Jun 2010
Posted by Leah
1 comment

How to keep up with safety recalls

iStock_000011714357XSmallI recently started reading the Consumer Reports website for some high-tech recommendations when their safety blog caught my eye. Whoa. Recalls galore! And on products that I use!

This got me to thinking about how I can stay better informed of recalls. It appears that the Internet is my source. There’s not really a one-stop shop, but there are several great resources.

For updates on recalls on products like toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals, check out the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s website; you can find info on over 4,500 product recalls on their site.

Another site I dig is Recalls.gov, where six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create a “one stop shop” for U.S. government recalls. You can join e-mail lists and get recall info delivered to you inbox on everything from food and boats to medicine and cosmetics.

Other groups:
Safe Kids
Consumer Watch
SafeCar.gov

Part of staying safe is staying informed and these sites can help. Let us know about your recall experience in the comments section. Would love to hear about it.

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03
Jun 2010
Posted by Jason
2 comments

Central Station up for prestigous awards

Anne and GregMonitronics has reason to be proud: Greg Hurst and Anne Glickstein have been nominated for prestigious awards from the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA).

Greg is nominated for manager of the year and Anne for support of the year. In addition, we are nominated for Central Station of the year.

The winners will be announced June 16 at the CSAA Central Station Awards Breakfast in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Good luck!

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors, Industry Happenings

03
Jun 2010
Posted by Leah
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Monitronics collects cell phones for soldiers

Central Station employees recently dropped off the Monitronics donation of 61 cell phones for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program.The charity helps our soldiers overseas call home and employees here

“Because this program was extended their program to Farmers Branch, the home of Monitronics, we wanted to be part of the effort to support our armed forces,” said Mary Jensby,  Central Station Director. “Our employees have such a generous spirit that I knew they would want to participate.”

Anyone still wanting to give a cell phone for this cause can click on this link to find a donation center in the United States.

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25
May 2010
Posted by Leah
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Tuesday Tips: Camping safety

camping 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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13
May 2010
Posted by Jason
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Monitronics smoke monitoring prevents fire

FirefightersOne 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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11
May 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday tips: Prevent child drowning

000009120008XSmallChild 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

07
May 2010
Posted by Leah
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Monitronics goes Wild West for MoniFest

MoniFest t-shirt designOnce 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

03
May 2010
Posted by Leah
0 comments

Dealers’ code of conduct exceeds expectations

door knockerMonitronics 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

29
Apr 2010
Posted by Jason
0 comments

Red Cross recognizes Monitronics’ Haiti donations

CEO accepts certificateAfter the January earthquake in Haiti, Monitronics employees were deeply concerned by the news of devastation from that country. In response, they organized multiple fundraisers in order to make a donation to the American Red Cross relief efforts.

And fund-raise they did. The company matched dollar-for-dollar the donations and money earned from raffles, snack sales, and lunches. The result? In February, Monitronics donated a total of $18,484 to the Dallas chapter of the American Red Cross.

On Wednesday, a Red Cross representative presented the company with a certificate of appreciation. Pictured here, CEO and President Mike Haislip accepted the certificate from Assistant Director of Institutional Giving Emily H. Allbright.

“It was my pleasure to personally meet and thank Mr. Haislip and the amazing employees at Monitronics for their generosity for the relief efforts in Haiti,” said Allbright. “It was a devastating disaster and because of support from companies such as Monitronics, the Red Cross is able to provide relief supplies and hope.”

Haislip said that the company wanted to be a part of the solution.

“The Red Cross has helped more than two million people in Haiti since the earthquake three months ago and we wanted to be a part of those relief efforts,” said Haislip. “Our employees showed their generous spirit and worked hard to raise the funds we donated.”

If you want to donate online to the continued efforts of the Red Cross in Haiti, where there is still much need, click here or call 800-RED-CROSS.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors

29
Apr 2010
Posted by Leah
1 comment

Prevent summer scams from happening to you

Consumer Reports issues “Scam Alert: Don’t Get Ripped Off.”

This summer, beware of door-to-door home security scams. These guys are swindlers and they will lie to get you to switch your account. Their offer will sound great, but it’s not legitimate. You might end up with some unpleasant consequences: double bills, a non-working security system, and a real headache trying to get the situation fixed. Never change your security provider without calling Monitronics first at 800-396-9815.

Look for the signs of a scam:

    1. Offering free upgrades or equipment
    They might claim that your system is analog and will quit working. This is not true.

    2. Claiming that Monitronics is out of business.
     We’re here to provide you with reliable, 24/7 protection.

    3. Using high pressure sales talk, trying to make you switch security companies.
    The pressure should be a red flag: honest and legitimate sales people don’t need to be pushy.

Report these scam artists right away to Monitronics and don’t be fooled. These people are often friendly, neatly dressed, and college-aged. They are usually unassuming and can be perceived as very helpful and informative. The sales pitch varies, but often they will deceive you by saying that your Monitronics home security alarm system is inadequate or faulty and needs to be replaced. They might claim that we are out of business. None of it is true.

They will likely pressure you to sign a contract immediately and install the same day. They’ll even offer to help you cancel your Monitronics service.

If you take advantage of their offer, you immediately risk your home security. The equipment is often installed improperly, which can cause your Monitronics alarm to stop working. Plus, you risk signing multiple long-term service contracts that will force you to pay two monthly bills.

Make sure you know the facts and whom you are dealing with when a door-to-door security sales person shows up. Get the name of the sales person and his or her company and call Monitronics at 800-396-9815. We care about your safety.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Industry Happenings

27
Apr 2010
Posted by Jason
1 comment

Tuesday tips: National Playground Safety Week

iStock_000006723155XSmallFor those of us with children, an afternoon at the local park is a real joy. During National Playground Safety, April 26-30, we take a few days to focus on children’s outdoor play environments. As parents, we take a look at our judgment when kids are playing. I recently discovered that 200,000 children are injured on America’s playgrounds annually. And there’s no nationally coordinated effort to help kids stay safer–it’s usually left up to local communities and schools.

As the National Program for Playground Safety points out, playgrounds don’t become safer all by themselves. They’re advocating for that national program to:

    1. Provide proper supervision of children on playgrounds
    2. Design age-appropriate playgrounds
    3. Provide proper surfacing under and around playgrounds
    4. Properly maintain playgrounds.

How you can help (from NPPS)

    * Design and distribute surveys to discover favorite and least favorite equipment, as well as recurring playground problems and injuries.
    * Send letters to your state governor encouraging them to proclaim National Playground Safety Week.
    * Create and hang posters in schools and community areas outlining S.A.F.E. playground practices.
    * Complete playground equipment safety checks and evaluations.
    * Challenge your school to an injury-free week on the playground.
    * Check out your local playgrounds. If there is hard surfacing, such as asphalt, concrete, dirt, or grass underneath play equipment, call the owner and politely voice your concern. Ask if there is anything you can do to help.
    * Write to the editor of your hometown newspaper commenting on any playground safety issues in your local community. Give credit to those facilities with safe playgrounds as well.
    * With children, make a maximum of five playground rules that they can remember and follow.
    * Check for safety using NPPS Lesson Plans. To order, call 800-554-PLAY (7529).

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