Household security and safety

A great deal has been written and publicised about industrial and commercial security, but the area of safety and security in the domestic or household sphere where most of us spend our nonworking time and leisure has been rather neglected, not out of lack of consideration for security and safety in our homes, but rather owing to a general feeling that our domestic front is normally safe and comfortable.

This feeling and attitude has probably stemmed out of natural complacency, following vigorous commitment and attention to the subject in the work places widespread from factories and schools to corporate high-tech chambers. The home front, which shelters our near and dear and our hard-earned valuables, certainly warrants greater attention to ensure our domestic security and safety to preplanning and preparation rather than leaving it to chance and complacency.

Vulnerabilities in the home

A home that shelters children, adults, the elderly or the differently-abled, needs to be conscious of a host of vulnerabilities.

The presence of natural gas in most homes is a possible threat if not handled with care. ‘Methane is the main ingredient in natural gas. It is colourless, odourless and lighter than air, produces no smoke and is clean and brighter than other fossil fuels such as coal and oil,’ states the internet. This is the domestic gas we use for cooking, drying and heating and that comes to us in different commercial brands such as Laugfs Gas and Shell Gas.

Natural gas is a gas unlike petrol or gasoline, which is a liquid. The domestic gas cylinder has to be examined for any leaks or emanation of gas odour, which is an indication of a leak, prior to purchasing same from the vendor. Your appliance, be it a cooker or stove, also needs to be examined regularly for leaks in the connecting hoses, etc. One has to advice members of the household to be alert to any fumes prior to igniting any gas-related appliances. It is advisable not to approach the gas cooker with long, flowing clothing or loose hair.

The kitchen is another vulnerable place in the house; for example, all knives, forks, scissors and other sharp objectives have to be kept out of reach of children and kept in safe places that would prevent these from accidentally falling off and injuring children and the elderly.

Medicines need to be kept preferably in a medicine box and kept out of reach of children. Even the elderly could misread labels and take wrong medicines.

Detergents in the kitchen or bathrooms too need to be kept in appropriate places and not consumed mistakenly. We have heard of many instances where kerosene oil has been mistakenly consumed in some of our home fronts.

Taking care of electrical items

Electrical items too need to be taken care of. Plug points too should not be overloaded, as these could heat up the wiring, resulting in possible fires. In the event of heavy thunder and lightning, it is best that radios and televisions sets are switched off and experts recommend even pulling off the plugs from their sockets.

Children sometimes become vulnerable due to the negligence of adults. A glaring example comes to mind. A working mother, who was ironing her office wear rather hurriedly in the midst of attending to several other chores in the morning, went to the toilet leaving the hot iron as it was. Her three year old son very innocently walked up to the ironing board and caught hold of the hot iron with his palms. The mother rushed out when the child screamed in pain to find the child with badly burnt palms. Adults need to be very safety conscious when small children are around.

Fire extinguisher

Some homes have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed to alert them of the existence of harmful gases in the home. The availability of a dry chemical fire extinguisher in the home is also very useful. Depending on the size of the house the number of fire extinguishers available can vary. All members of the household need to be trained in the use of an extinguisher. The four basic steps in operating an extinguisher are:

1. Pull the safety pin on top of the cylinder

2. Aim at the base of the fire

3. Squeeze the handle

4. Sweep the resulting spray from side to side until you control or extinguish the fire.

(Source: Internet)

It is important to act swiftly on detecting a fire and control it, by cutting off the air (oxygen) supply.         

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(The writer is a Member of the Industrial Security Foundation of Sri Lanka.)

When families proceed on holidays, many are the instances when one wonders whether one has closed a tap properly or switched off a fan in the room or locked up the rear door properly. Homesteads are advised to prepare a holiday safety checklist, covering all safety and security details to ensure a worry-free and relaxing holiday.

In many houses there are numerous small holes and wedges, which invite pests, rodents and reptiles to sneak in. These should be identified and rectified or temporarily closed, especially when one goes out on holiday.

Physical security issues

Most homes cannot afford the elaborate physical security precautions found in commercial and industrial sites for reasons of cost and personal expediency. However, there are ample actions one could take by using commonsense and a little attention to fairly secure your homestead from burglars and opportunity thieves. Some of the suggestions herein could be customised to suit individual homes:

Keep the garden clean and trimmed up. Trees and branches that are likely to be made use of by thieves to climb on to your garden or house over the perimeter fence or wall need to be cut or trimmed to prevent this.

Secure your garage and have it lit at night. If your vehicle is parked out in the garden, ensure it is locked up and the shutters rolled up and preferably in a lit area. Garden lighting should be installed at a higher location to prevent intruders meddling with it.

Rearing a dog is a good deterrent. Most local strains are hardy and good for watch duties. A little training will make the dog a good sentry.

The main entrance door should be fixed with a peep hole and an accompanying chain to open the door slightly under secured conditions when answering the door during odd times.

Windows should be installed with sturdy grills and preferably sturdy latches.

Lock up home (doors and windows) for the night systematically. This responsibility could be assigned to various members of the house depending on the size. When on holiday, this detail needs to be attended seriously. Most homes are burgled using open windows, etc., due to negligence.

Change padlocks and locks when in a new house or keys are lost. Do not leave your house keys with unscrupulous neighbours or domestics. They could turn out duplicates.

The house should look occupied when out on holiday. A few lights strategically kept lit would have the desired effect. Do not leave the home telephone on full volume. A continuously ringing phone is an indication of occupants not being home.

Hire domestics from reliable sources or agencies. If necessary, in addition carry out a background check. This check need not be through professional investigators; a personal verification from the domestic’s previous employers would suffice.

Exchange information on suspicious characters or incidents with neighbours, so that your neighbourhood also will be on the alert for possible threats.

Beware of suspicious looking sales and insurance persons. Demand their credentials such as visiting cards and NICs to verify. Do not volunteer personal or family information without satisfying yourself. Beggars also need to be handled securely as some of them operate hand in glove with thieves, by doubling up as ‘lookouts’.

Emergency Evacuation Kits (EEKs) could also be handy for homes located in areas physically vulnerable to floods and landslides. The EEKs could be prepared for the whole family or for individuals in the house depending on the perceived threat level. Some of the items that could be included in an EEK are a torch light, pen and paper, box containing essential medications, a towel, a pair of slippers, cash, telephone numbers, cell phone, IDs and credit cards, etc. This could also come in handy if evacuation is due to imminent armed gang robbery, civil unrest, riots, etc. In the latter event, one must be mindful of the evacuation route and the possible safe destination.

In an industrial and commercial security environment, elaborate security plans are designed and these are theoretically required to be tested by regular rehearsing. In a domestic situation householders are advised to briefly discuss safety and security vulnerabilities with family members and agree upon arrangements and responsibilities. Preparation of a household safety and security checklist would contribute to fine-tuning the related awareness component.