Did you know that around 80% of all burns occurs in or around the home? They’re totally preventable in both adults and children! Getting burned is a traumatic experience both physically and mentally, so be cautious and stay safe.

Burn prevention tips from Monitronics

* Keep water heater temperature at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower

* Don’t cook at the stove with kids underfoot

* Turn handles of pots toward the back of the store and don’t leave pots unattended

* Never pour hot liquids while holding a child

* Check temperature of bath water before placing a child in it and don’t ever leave a child unattended in the tub

* Put matches and lighters in unreachable or locked location

* Keep key out of the gas control and put a heavy cover in front of the fireplace

* Use safety plugs in electrical outlets

* Avoid chemical burns by moving all dangerous products to an unreachable place

* Slather on the sunscreen when outside

* Install smoke alarms in multiple locations around the house (each floor and bedroom) and test monthly

* Candles are dangerous. Don’t leave them unattended.

I live in a gated community in Dallas, Texas, and I have to admit, I don’t really know my neighbors. There’s Dixie and what’s-his-name who live next door, Mark something down the street, and those two women with the SUVs at the end of the street. It’s a little sad.

Experts tell us that while a monitored security system a front-line defense against crimes like burglary and home invasion, we should never underestimate the value of getting to know our neighbors.

First, there’s the familiarity factor. If everyone in the neighborhood knows who their neighbors are, they’re more likely to know who doesn’t belong, what looks fishy, and who to contact when there’s something suspicious. A moving truck in the McGregors’ driveway could mean a job transfer to another city, or a robbery in progress. An informed neighbor would know.

Second, there’s a sense of accountability that comes from knowing who lives nearby. You start to care because there’s a name with a face. Sometimes, we get so isolated in our houses that flames would have to be shooting out of a neighbor’s windows before we might think of calling the fire department. But if you know Bob and Janet live there, you’re likely to make that call much earlier.

Third, good neighbors help each other out. Going on a weekend trip? Ask them to watch the house and pick up the newspaper. You can do the same for them in the future.

Almost all of us have a list of excuses for not knowing our neighbors: we’re busy, they work different hours, their teenage son looks weird…None of them are very good. It only takes a few minutes to introduce yourself and say hello from time to time. The security payoff could be big and it’s just a nice thing to do.

Though they make the house smell good and go a long way in helping to create a holiday ambiance, candles are a chief source of house fires during the holiday season. Candles are the third leading cause of home fire injuries, and there are four times as many candle-related fire incidents during the holidays than at any other time of year. Instead of using lit candles, consider these creative alternatives.

Flameless candles
Powered by batteries, flameless candles give the appearance of lit, burning candles without the mess of dripping wax or danger of fire. They are available in a variety of scents and styles and can be safely placed near flammable decorations.

Reed diffusers
Another popular alternative these days, reed diffusers require no heat, batteries or flames and can emit a pleasant fragrance for months at a time.

If you do use lit candles this holiday season, make sure that the candle holders are not flammable, that candles are not placed near any decorations that could easily catch fire, and never leave them burning unattended.

Following these common sense tips can help keep your family from becoming one of the numerous fire statistics this holiday season. For additional protection of your house while you’re both home and away, consider a monitored smoke and fire alarm system from Monitronics. Call us at 800-290-0709 for more information.