Smart and Easy Safety Tools for Living Alone

In the US, living alone is common with around 28% of households having only one person. And it’s easy to understand the advantages of doing so. It means having your own small slice of earth totally devoted to your likes and needs, coming and going as you please, and never having to share the television remote with anyone, ever. But living alone can make you and your home more vulnerable if you do not take smart precautions to increase your safety.

Don’t Advertise It

One of the first ways to increase your safety is to remember to not advertise that you live alone. Sure, you don’t go around announcing that you live alone to the general public, but chances are good that you do some things that tell the general public that you are going solo. For example, one name on the mailbox or apartment roster or a home phone answering message that uses a singular pronoun in the message like “I will call you right back!” both easily confirm you live alone. Have close friends look for cracks in your security that you may not see.

Use Social Media With Care

Social media is another big area of consideration. You have heard it so many times that it makes your ears bleed but no matter how private you have your social media settings, there is always a chance of important information being disseminated that could risk your safety. Never post anything that indicated when or where you will be or divulges things like your work schedule. Always act as if whatever you post is going out to a million-unknown people, because it could be.

Have A Plan

Another way to increase your safety is by being proactive. Think about different types of emergencies such as break-in or fire and develop protocols for each. Have escape plans, develop emergency codes for friends and family, and have an emergency contact on your phone labeled something like “pizza” which may make calling out possible in an extreme emergency.

Fake Out Would Be Intruders

You can also use fakery to increase your safety and throw off burglars or anyone else wanting to get in to your home. It sounds silly, but think about it— smart fakery has even turned the tide of wars! So, employ some fakery of your own by putting out some muddy work boots and other shoes by the door to make it look like several people live there. Home automation is another super tool for making it look like you are home at varied hours, making your home less attractive to burglars.

If possible, add a home security system to your living alone toolbox. A monitored home security system not only can provide cool safety tools like video doorbells to see who is at the door, it can also detect trouble and deploy help far sooner than you could. That is a major advantage in emergency situations.

Living alone does offer a lot of freedom, but no one can afford the freedom to let their guard down. If you live alone or are planning to, be sure to be proactive in security. It does not take much effort to add a tremendous amount safety too your life, and it is always worth the peace of mind.

Keith Maley
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