Entry Door Locks for Extra NYC Security

March 15, 2021 by

Home security, especially entry door locks, is a popular topic of discussion in New York City as everyone wants to protect their family and belongings from ill intent. So it can be helpful to know how to make a home seem less attractive to burglars and how to take a more active role in protecting your belongings. There are several layers to consider when evaluating your home security and entry door locks are an essential element.

The Anatomy of a Door Lock

The cylinder is the part of the lock where the key goes. Single cylinder locks open with a key from the outside and with a thumb knob from the inside. A double cylinder lock opens from the outside and the inside with a key. Double cylinder locks are typically used for entry doors that contain a glass window as an intruder can break the glass and turn the knob of a single cylinder lock. But double cylinder locks pose a fire hazard as without the key you could be trapped inside the home during an emergency. Some local fire codes ban these locks. If you have moved into a new place, you should always at the very least change the cylinder of your locks and get a new key. Who knows how many people have a copy of the key or if it is hidden somewhere nearby. In many rental scenarios you will be required to provide your landlord with a duplicate of the key.

A strike plate is the metal plate that attaches inside the doorframe and it is a very important part of your lock. A flimsy strike plate or a strike plate that is attached with short screws will bend easily when the door is kicked by an intruder.

A throw is the actual bolt that slides into the door jamb and locks the door.

Smart door locks are synced with your phone or tablet and can be monitored from anywhere. While they offer the convenience of remote access, smart locks offer little to no additional protection in comparison to a standard deadbolt set. They are still susceptible to physical break-in tactics, such as drilling and picking.

Tips for Choosing an Entry Door Lock

  • Higher-security locks will have hardened cylinders, unique pin configurations, and other defenses. 
  • The industry ranks locks from Grades 1 to 3, with Grade 1 locks being the most difficult to disable.
  • For maximum security, the dead bolt should always extend 1 inch from the door’s edge.
  • Choosing an entry door lock is one time you don’t want to save a few bucks if it means sacrificing quality and durability. Your lock is only as good as its quality 
  • An easy way to improve upon an existing lock situation would be to add an additional lock to your door that works like a door jammer. 
  • Beef up your installation by using 3-inch screws on your strike plate. Door hinges should also be secured with 3-inch screws. The longer screws will make it more difficult for an intruder to kick the door open.

Replacing your deadbolt lock does little to improve your home security if you leave other vulnerabilities unaddressed. At Sentry Window Guards, we provide various types of childproof window locking mechanisms and safety devices for your home or business. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

 

Filed Under: Security Tips Tagged With: ,

5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe at School This Year

August 17, 2020 by

Going back to school can be worrisome for many parents and students, even more so during a pandemic. As your children are eager to get settled into a new school year routine, it is important to think about and discuss with your children how to stay safe. 

Stay on Top of Coronavirus Updates

We are all in this together. Schools, administration, teachers, and parents have never had to make the type of plans and decisions that we are making at this unprecedented time. The CDC, states, and school districts are constantly releasing new information and it can be hard to stay on top of the changes. But the best possible course of action is to inform yourself and prepare your child for the changes this school year will bring. The CDC has released a school decision making tool for parents and guardians and a back-to-school checklist to assist in your planning.

Keep Medical and Emergency Contact Information Up-To-Date

During a pandemic, it is even more vital that the school district has accurate and up-to-date medical and emergency contact information. This will ensure you don’t miss any school closings and critical safety information. Review and update your child’s records to ensure allergies, medications, disabilities, illnesses your child may be susceptible to, and approved pick-up persons are current. 

Stay Safe While Traveling To and From School

Whether your children will be walking, riding their bicycles, carpooling, or taking the bus to school, it is important to take proper safety precautions. Children usually aren’t ready to start walking to school without an adult until about fifth grade, or around age 10. With your child, plan a safe route and walk on the sidewalk when one is available. When cycling to school, all riders should follow the basic rules of the road and always wear a bicycle helmet. Teach your child the proper way to get on and off the bus starting with standing three large steps from the curb and to always remain visible to the bus driver.

Maintain Communication with Teachers and Administrators

Administrators, teachers, and parents all have to work together to create and maintain a healthy, safe, and productive learning environment for students. Introduce yourself to your child’s teachers early on and let them know you want to work together to have a successful and safe school year. Ask the teacher their preferred method of communication and show them that you respect their time. Keep the lines of communication open and provide supplies needed by the teacher that will help them provide a safe environment. Attend all teacher parent conferences, either in person or with video conferencing in the time of Coronavirus. 

Have Open and Honest Conversations with Your Child

Physically going back to school during a pandemic may mean required or recommended face coverings and social distancing. Allow them to get used to wearing face coverings by practicing at home. Discuss with them the importance of hand washing and social distancing. Of course, being mentally prepared for school is just as important as being psychically prepared. Help them understand that we are still learning about the virus which means plans and procedures can change unexpectedly, but it is all being done in the name of their safety.

Returning to school during the pandemic may not feel like normal – at least for a while. But having safety plans in place can ease the anxiety for parents, teachers, and students. For more information regarding Sentry Window Guard products and how they keep your children safe at home, contact us at 718-389-1777. 

 

 

Filed Under: Child Safety Tagged With: ,

Childproofing Your Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic

July 19, 2020 by

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, many families are spending much more time at home. This has been challenging for parents trying to sustain daily schedules, manage virtual school work and activities, all while maintaining work from home or essential worker jobs. Many families are practically tripping over each other in their home, which is now serving as a place to work, play, learn, and exercise. And parents are being asked to multitask in ways that they typically have not been before. All of these circumstances lead to an increased need for childproofing around the home. Even if you feel your home is already a safe space for your child, it never hurts to take a look around with fresh eyes to see whether there are any holes in your safety strategy.

  • Anchor furniture. Use fasteners and brackets to ensure bookshelves, dressers and cabinets will not fall over. You can’t tell simply by looking at a piece of furniture whether it’s stable, so if your furniture isn’t already anchored to the wall, now is the time to do so.
  • Keep medicines and vitamins up and away and out of sight and reach of children. And keep medicines in their original child-resistant containers relocking safety caps after each use.
  • Store cleaning supplies carefully. Instead of keeping your cleaning supplies under the sink, put them in a higher cabinet or buy locks for the cabinet doors. Hand sanitizers pose an especially high risk to children right now because people are using them more often, and some are brightly colored which attracts curious littles. Most sanitizers contain at least 60 percent alcohol, potentially causing serious injury when consumed by a child. If someone in your home does consume a dangerous cleaning fluid, call poison control immediately, at 800-222-1222.
  • Use properly installed safety gates on stairs and lock any rooms where access needs to be monitored.
  • Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home.
  • Never leave small children unattended around open windows. To help prevent children from climbing up to an open window, don’t place furniture near windows. Properly installed window guards are your best defense in preventing window falls. 
  • Give young children your full attention in the bathtub or around water. Teach children to never go near or in water without adult permission. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1-4.
  • Be sure and keep cribs clear of objects such as stuffed animals, bumpers and blankets. Hundreds of infants die each year due to suffocation or strangulation because of these objects in the crib.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. We hope these tips will help you protect your children from home injuries during the Coronavirus pandemic. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: , ,

Safety Prevention Saves Lives: A Real Life Tragedy

February 10, 2020 by

The following story is based on a real life experience. This type of tragedy can happen when the proper measures aren’t taken. And unfortunately this isn’t the only story regarding children falling out of windows to their death.

“A nine dollar window guard,” Jason says. “That’s all it would have taken to protect my son. And I didn’t even think about it.”

No parent should have to endure the trauma of having a child fall out of a window. Jason and Becca Cunningham* experienced just that when one of their three-year old sons fell from his second-story bedroom window. Although their son landed on his head on the concrete, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and temporary paralysis, he did regain his health after intense, long-term therapy. With thousands of window fall accidents involving children in the U.S. each year, many stories don’t turn out with a happy ending. Many children die or sustain life-long injuries.

The Cunninghams did not reside in New York City, where homeowners must have window guards on their windows BY LAW if children 10 years or younger are living in the home. As a matter of fact, window safety wasn’t even on Jason and Becca’s radar as it probably isn’t with many families. Here are a few tips to help keep your home safer and prevent window fall accidents from occurring:

Tip #1 – Install window guards and stops. Properly installed window guards are your best defense in preventing window falls. Window stops are also a good idea to help allow you to enjoy a fresh breeze while ensuring windows won’t open wide enough to invite a fall.

Tip #2 – Open windows from the top and close after use. If you have windows that can open from top and bottom, choose opening the top versus the bottom to prevent falls. Don’t leave opened windows unattended if small children are present.

Tip #3 – Be sure windows are clear of chairs, cribs or other furniture being too close in proximity, especially if you have crawlers or climbers.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

*As a result of their traumatic experience, Jason and Becca became active members of the Stop at 4” Window Fall Prevention campaign in Portland, Oregon. Becca even went on to help educate other parents regarding the importance of window fall prevention with her book titled ‘If Kids Could Float!’

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: ,

5 Tips To Help Keep Your Kids Safe This Holiday Season

November 29, 2019 by

Keeping your children safe is every parent’s first priority. At Sentry Window Guards, we understand how dangerous a fall from a window can be. In fact, by law in NYC, anyone with children 10 years or under must have window guards on their windows. On average about 5,000 kids fall each year from windows in the U.S. But did you know that approximately six kids per day die from all types of injuries in the home and 3.5 million kids are seen in the emergency department for these types of injuries? Here are 5 tips to help you protect your children in your home and keep them safe this holiday season and all year long:

  1. Pay attention: Parents get busy. We get that. However if you have a young child in the bathtub or around water, please give them your full and undivided attention. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1-4.
  1. Check smoke alarms: Check smoke alarm batteries every six months to help reduce the risk of death by home fires. A working smoke alarm can reduce this risk by half.
  1. Practice crib safety: Be sure and keep cribs clear of objects such as stuffed animals, bumpers and blankets. Hundreds of infants die each year due to suffocation or strangulation because of these objects in the crib.
  1. Hide medicines and cleaning products from kids: Make sure and keep all medicines and cleaning products up and away from curious little hands. Don’t leave medications on nightstands or kitchen/bathroom counters if children can reach them. Avoiding storing cleaning products under kitchen sinks unless you install childproof locks.
  1. Install window guards and safety gates: We’ve already mentioned how many kids fall each year in the U.S. from windows. Reduce this risk by installing window guards. We also recommend installing safety gates to keep children from falling down stairs. On average, 93,000 children age 5 and under are seen in the emergency department for stair-related injuries.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize other types of in-home injuries that affect children. We hope these 5 tips are taken seriously and will help you protect your children from home injuries. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips Tagged With: ,
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