3 Top Tips to Help Prepare for Severe Weather

September 6, 2016 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: Safety Tips Tagged With: ,

Know the Dangers of Lead Paint on Window Sills in New York

November 21, 2015 by

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lead poisoning is “the number one environmental threat to the health of children in the United States.” In their most recent survey, approximately 4.4% of all children aged 1-5 have levels of lead in their blood that equal or exceed the threshold level of concern established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And while these numbers are down from just a few years ago, lead exposure is a great concern.

Most lead-poisoned children have been exposed in their own homes. If you rent your apartment or home, controlling your family’s exposure to lead is more difficult to control. Many New York City apartments are older dwellings and even though lead-based paint has been banned for residential use since 1960 older buildings contain old layers of lead paint.  Lead paint was typically used on kitchen and bathroom walls and throughout homes on doors, windows, and wooden trim. Unless tested you can’t be sure if it was used in your home or apartment. Before you move in, ask the landlord if the paint has ever been tested for lead. If it has, ask to see the results. However, landlords in New York State are not required to test paint for lead, nor are they required to allow a prospective tenant to test paint for lead before renting.

Symptoms of Lead Poisoning

The most common way children get exposed to lead is by mouth. They may chew on a window sill or other area that contains lead.  Symptoms of lead poisoning vary. They may affect one area or many parts of the body. Typically, lead poisoning builds up slowly after many small exposures to lead.

Lead toxicity is rare after a single exposure or ingestion of lead.

Signs of repeated lead exposure include:

  • Abdominal pain, cramps
  • Aggressive behavior, irritability, fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Loss of developmental skills
  • Loss of appetite
  • High blood pressure, anemia. Kidney problems
  • Numbness or tingling in the extremities
  • Memory loss

NYC Lead Paint Notice

New York City law requires that tenants living in buildings with 3 or more apartments complete the attached form and return it to their landlord before February 15, each year. If you do not return this form, your landlord is required to visit your apartment to determine if children live in your apartment.  This form also applies to dwellings built from 1960 – 1978 if the landlord knows lead paint was used.

Please see below for the form or click on the link below-

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/lead/lead-annual-notice.pdf

Sentry Window Guards is the leader in home and business safety. Contact us today to learn more about our window guard products, our experience and leadership in understanding NYC requirements and how we can assist you.

Sources

http://www.ag.ny.gov/environmental/lead/lead-paint-hazards

http://www.healthline.com/health/lead-poisoning#Symptoms4

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/home/home.shtml

NYC Health Lead Poisoning and Window Falls

Filed Under: Child Safety, Falls From Windows Tagged With: , , ,

Property Managers: Are your New York Window Guards Up to Par?

April 7, 2014 by
Window Guards for Property Managers

The New York City law requires landlords to mount window guards in every apartment where a child aged 10 or under lives or when a resident requests them, including ground floor apartments.

It’s that time of year! Folks are throwing back the drapes and letting the light and air of spring and summer indoors! This is the most important time to make sure window guards are installed where children are living and that they are properly installed on all windows. Every window in your New York building should have a window guard.

Installing window guards has been essential for safety in New York City and the state implemented a law stating that anyone in a building can request window guards from their landlord, for any reason. As a property manager you must supply window guard notices to tenants who complete and return them. Be sure you are up to date on your window guard requests by apartment dwellers!

The New York City law requires landlords to mount window guards in every apartment where a child aged 10 or under lives or when a resident requests them, including ground floor apartments.

Windows can very often be hazardous for young children. According to a CNN blog, 5,000 children per year end up in the emergency room from window falls. This fact poses a considerable risk to your property management. Additionally, windows without window guards may pose a risk for possible break-ins.

You must give you the notice within the first 30 days after the start of the lease. And, every year after that, between January 1 and January 16 (or earlier with your January rent bill), landlords must send another notice to tenants to find out if a child 10 years of age or younger lives in the home, or if the tenant wants window guards for any other reason.

To improve safety on your properties, consider offering to install window guards on all windows.

A common question our team gets is, “Do I need to install window guards even if there are window stops?” Unfortunately, window stops are not a substitute for window guards. Window stops keep the window from opening fully. However, some residents may want to let more air into the property and remove the window stop, which completely opens the window. This creates the potential for accidents to occur.

We have assisted property managers all across New York and we’re happy to share our work with you. Should you need assistance in the proper window guard selection for your building or how to stay within the parameters of the law, please give us a call.

Filed Under: Laws regarding Window Guards Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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