Tips To Help Prepare For Severe Summer Weather

May 21, 2019 by

Preventing severe weather disasters from happening is out of our control. However, we can control how we respond if we are better prepared. Following a few tips to help prepare you in the event you should encounter a disaster will not only help you respond more quickly, but can also save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

  1. PLAN OF ACTION: Evaluate the risks of severe weather in your area and plan accordingly. Set up a plan of action with your family and designate a place to meet if your family is separated during a severe weather disaster. Monitor the weather on a regular basis and invest in a quality weather radio. Many smart phones have weather apps that can alert you of severe weather in your area. Designate a safe place to keep all of your important documents such as your homeowner’s insurance policy.
  1. EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT: Be smart and prepare a home emergency preparedness kit. You can find a checklist for one at gov. Make sure your kit has enough emergency supplies, dried and canned food, and water for at least three days. Store all battery-powered flashlights, lanterns and candles together for quick retrieval.
  1. UNDERSTAND YOUR HOMEOWNER’S POLICY: It’s important to understand your homeowner’s insurance policy and what you are covered for in the event of a disaster. Make sure to complete an inventory of your home assets along with documentation such as photos or videos.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our business to help keep families safe. We strongly suggest you take these three tips seriously and make arrangements to prepare for severe weather disasters now. Preparedness can mean the difference between a disaster and a tragedy. 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, Summer Home Tips Tagged With:

National Window Safety Week 2019

April 1, 2019 by

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds everyone that it only takes 5 minutes to prevent a child from falling out a window!

Spring is here and many homeowners are eager to open windows and let in the fresh air. Each year, the Window Safety Task Force of the National Safety Council takes the first full week in April to educate on the importance of practicing window safety year-round. National Window Safety Week is designed to increase awareness on helping to prevent accidental window falls and the proper use of windows for emergency escape purposes.

***Falls from a window can result in serious injury or death and pose an especially dangerous threat for children. Every year, about eight children under age five die each year from falling out a window, and more than 3,300 are injured seriously enough to go to the hospital.***

Here are 3 tips to help keep your home safer and prevent window fall accidents from occurring:

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.

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.

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

The Window Safety Task Force recommends the following items be a part of your fire emergency plan:

  1. Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut
  2. Do not install air conditioners in windows that may be needed for escape
  3. Make sure at least one window in each bedroom meets escape and rescue requirements
  4. Window guards, security bars, grilles or grates render windows useless in an emergency unless they have a release mechanism; update them if necessary
  5. Develop an emergency escape plan and practice it during the day and at night
  6. Keep emergency escape ladders in second- or third-story bedrooms and teach everyone in the home how to use them.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. Visit here for more tips from the National Safety Council regarding emergency plans and preventing window falls. And remember if you reside in New York City, homeowners MUST have window guards on their windows BY LAW if children 10 years or younger are living in the home. 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, Falls From Windows, Safety Tips Tagged With: ,

6 Tips to Protect Kids from Medicine Poisoning

March 10, 2019 by

16554651_sAt 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 medications are the leading cause of child poisoning? Did you also know a child gets into medications almost always during a moment alone? Here are 6 tips to help you protect your children in your home and keep them safe from medicine poisoning:

  • Up and away and out of sight and reach – If you store all medication as prescribed, your child will be safe. Taking the time to store your medications safely is worth the investment in your child’s safety.
  • Safe dosing device – Kitchen measuring devices such as a teaspoon or even a kitchen spoon won’t measure the exact amount as a dosing device. Avoid over-dosing your child and use the device that comes with the medication.
  • Child-resistant packaging – Keep the medication in the original child-resistant packaging if possible. There is a reason why the medication includes this feature.
  • Make storage a habit before baby arrives – Babies as young as 3 weeks old have gotten into medication and landed in the ER. Make it habit before your first born to practice safe storage.
  • Reminder tools – If you are afraid you’ll forget medication dosing times and you tend to keep the medicine handy, set an alarm on your watch or cell phone; leave a note on the refrigerator; if dosing times are during the same time as a daily task such as brushing your teeth, store the meds safely nearby; or use a medication schedule card.
  • Poison Help Line – Keep the number in your phone and post visibly in your home on the refrigerator or near the front door. Be sure any babysitters or family members have the number as well.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. We also recognize other dangers in the home such as medicine poisoning. We hope these 6 tips are taken seriously and will help you protect your children from poisoning accidents. 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: ,

6 Tips to Help Protect Children from General Falls

February 15, 2019 by

“Falls are the leading cause of childhood injury and most of them happen around the home,” says Christopher Moir, M.D., pediatric surgeon at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, who has cared for a wide variety of injuries related to falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day approximately 8,000 children visit the ER as a result of a fall. Unfortunately some of these falls result in death, especially from falls from windows.

Here are 6 tips on how to protect children from general falls in the home:

1. Parental/Guardian supervision is a must. Never leave a child unattended.

2. If placing infants in car seats, carriers or bouncy seats, always strap infants in securely.

3. Do not keep bouncy seats and car seats on countertops, tables or laundry appliances. Keep them on the floor.

4. When changing infants on a changing table or couch, keep one hand on them and don’t leave them unattended.

5. Always use baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

6. Make sure infants can’t crawl out of cribs and/or portable cribs.

Seek medical attention immediately if a child falls and it appears to be serious or life-threatening. If not, still watch the child to see if behavior changes and warrants medical attention.

At Sentry Window Guards, our business is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. Visit here for more tips from the National Safety Council regarding emergency plans and preventing window falls. And remember if you reside in New York City, homeowners MUST have window guards on their windows BY LAW if children 10 years or younger are living in the home. 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, Falls From Windows, Safety Tips Tagged With: ,

Tips To Avoid Christmas Tree Fire Hazards During the Holidays

December 5, 2018 by

Happy Holidays New York! With the excitement and anticipation of this magical season, we want you to remember a few safety tips when trimming your Christmas tree. Although beautiful to admire, overloaded lights and dried-out trees are a recipe for fire disaster. According to the National Fire Protection Association, here are some scary facts:

#1: Fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees each year.

#2: One of every three home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical failures.

#3: Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur they are more likely to be serious.

#4: A heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every five of the fires.

We advise you to take the necessary steps to ensure you and your loved ones stay safe during the holiday season.

1.  How to choose the right tree for your family:

  • Artificial Tree: Make sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
  • Live Tree: Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that don’t fall off when touched.

2. Where to place the tree in your home:

  • Cut 2” from the base of the live tree trunk before placing it into the tree stand.
  • Make sure the live or artificial tree is at least three feet away from any heat source such as a fireplace, radiator, candle, heat vents or lights, and not blocking an exit.
  • Add water to live tree stand daily.

3. How to safely light the tree:

  • Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety.
  • Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
  • Do not use more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
  • Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. Lights could short out and start a fire.

4. How to dispose of the tree after the holidays:

  • Get rid of the live tree when it begins dropping needles. Check with your local community to find a recycling program for your tree.
  • Bring outdoor electrical lights inside to prevent hazards and extend the life of the lights.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe in New York. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of preventing potential fire hazards in the home. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding New York City safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Holidays, Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,
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