The Most Dangerous States

If you live in the United States, you might want to check out a recent report from CQ Press. The annual State Crime Rankings are now available, and the information in them is very revealing. First, an average rate of crime is established in the areas of murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, and car theft. Then each of the 50 states is compared to that average to determine the worst or more dangerous states when it comes to crime. The states with the highest combined rankings (each crime has the same weight) gets the dubious honor of being most … Continue reading →

Is Your Microwave a Danger to Your Health?

Modern conveniences are all very well and many make life easier. But sometimes I wonder about some of them. One in particular which is a staple appliance in most homes has come under criticism. It is the microwave oven. I remember when Microwaves first came out, there were a lot of rumors and people were wary about whether they were safe. It took me a long time to warm to the idea of a microwave and I’ve only ever used it in an emergency to defrost the meat or to cook vegetables. Then this week I was directed by someone … Continue reading →

Are You Ready for an Earthquake?

Disasters are something that we would definitely prefer not to think about. However, being prepared for a disaster is very important, whether that disaster is an earthquake, flood, landslide or fire. You should be ready to survive for 72 hours by yourself after a major disaster. If you and your neighbours are forced to leave your home and be self-sufficient for several days, are you prepared? To be truly prepared, you should have emergency supplies wherever you might be during the day. The home, office, car, and child care center or school all need to be ready to accommodate you … Continue reading →

Make Your Home a Spider Free Zone

Though I wouldn’t say I suffer from arachnophobia, I still do not want to co-exist with spiders. Yes, I know they reputedly eat flies and mosquitoes but they can eat them outside, not in my home. Here are some of my hints for making your home a spider no go area. 1. Get the house treated by a pest controller As our house had been vacant for a while before we moved in, a number of spider webs had accumulated outside. One of the first things we did before we moved was to get a pest controller in who went … Continue reading →

Update on Home and Personal Security

With the downturn in the economy home burglary and invasions have unfortunately increased. For this reason, you need to take extra precautions in protecting your home. Families.com has several articles on protecting your home and property, but with the increased danger in our communities, there are some new things you should consider. A home security system is an important key to protecting your home. While most people use home security to protect the house when they leave or when they are sleeping, you should also use a security system during the day. An increasingly disturbing number of home break-ins are … Continue reading →

How to Protect Your Home While You’re Away

Leaving your home alone for any length of time, whether it is a day or a month can be a nerve wracking experience. How do you know that thieves won’t break in to your home while you are gone? Here are some tips on how to protect your home while you’re away. The best way to protect your home while you are away is to make it appear as though it is occupied, even when it is not. If thieves think that you are home, then chances are pretty good that they will not break into your home. Contact a … Continue reading →

Spring Home Safety Check List

Just like a person, your home needs regular check ups to ensure that it is healthy, or at least safe for you and your family. Here are some things around your home that you should check in the spring. If you have an air conditioning system, have a professional air conditioning specialist (contractor) inspect your system. This specialist should also be able to clean and maintain your system. You don’t want to have any issues with it when summer comes. Replace the filter in your furnace (if you have one). Inspect your driveway and walkway, and repair any cracks or … Continue reading →

Creating Your Home Inventory

Are you prepared if disaster strikes? One way to ensure your home possessions are safeguarded is to create and keep a home inventory. You can learn more about The Importance of a Home Inventory by clicking this link. But how can you get started with a home inventory? Here are some easy steps to take as well as a guideline on what to include. I found that for me the easiest approach to beginning a home inventory is to do it room by room. First get a three-ring binder and some old fashioned loose leaf paper. (You can also create … Continue reading →

Even More Fire Prevention Tips

When it comes to protecting your home and your family from fire, you can never be too careful. Have you taken all of the precautions that are appropriate to safeguard your home? If you missed the earlier posts in this series, you can find them here: Fire Prevention Tips More Fire Prevention Tips Also, state Farm Insurance has a never of safety guidelines that are available in a little booklet. Now, let’s talk about a few more things that you can do to prevent fires in your home and help your family survive, if you do have a fire. Install … Continue reading →

More Fire Prevention Tips

Do you know all of the ways to prevent a fire from consuming your home or taking your life? Home fires can be absolutely devastating. A little knowledge know could prevent a real tragedy later. Many of these tips were suggested by State Farm Insurance. Here are some more tips on preventing fire and fire-related injury in the home. You might have heard of spontaneous combustion. Believe it or not, this is a very real hazard and can caused a fire in your home. To prevent spontaneous combustion, do not let oily or greasy rags collect. Even paint covered rags … Continue reading →