ADT shares July 4th safety tips

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The 4^th of July is right around the corner and while some people are already dreaming of fireworks and barbecue, ADT has shared some handy tips to keep you safe and secure during the holiday.

Independence Day, despite its celebratory nature, is a lightning rod for less savory activities and a variety of accidents. Crime rates have been observed to spike around holidays and that makes it a busy time of year for ADT. As Senior Director of Monitoring James Walsh puts it, the holiday is a peak time for security activity, including false alarms, fires, burglaries, and on-the-go protection.

“On Independence Day, home security activity increases by 20-30% during evening hours compared to an average day,” he said. “We also see the ADT SAFE mobile platform (Uber, Lyft, DoorDash) experience greater activity of more than 13% compared to a typical day.”

In response ADT offered these suggestions for staying safe during the Fourth of July.

SECURITY SYSTEM CHECK

ADT said that you should make sure that your current security system is meeting your needs and that of your family. If you feel otherwise of course ADT has some suggestions which include getting started with an ADT technician or their variety of self-setup options and included features like the ADT+ app and ADT SMART Monitoring.

HOME

Stepping out to watch the fireworks show, or visiting a party to celebrate? ADT said to remember your security basics when you do so. James Walsh states that many burglaries are committed through unlocked doors that are easily secured. He also reminds families to check other points of entry like the garage, windows, basement doors, and pet doors. ADT also suggests that users can add smart lighting to keep areas brightly lit.

 GRILLING

Needless to say, if you’re operating the grill this year, make sure you follow some basic safety tips:

• Clean your grill 
• Check gas grill hoses for cracks or holes 
• Keep children away from grills
• Grill in a well-ventilated area; never grill indoors or in any enclosed area 
• Ensure grills are at least 3 feet away from decks, siding, trees and any outdoor equipment that can catch fire.  

FIREWORKS

Quoting the National Fire Protection Association, ADT said there’s more than 19,000 fires annually caused by fireworks, and in the past two decades injury rates have climbed by 25% according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. ADT suggests:

• Never disassemble or try to make fireworks.
• Don’t point sparklers or fireworks at yourself or others.
• Only light fireworks on the ground and in dry and fire-resistant areas where it is legal.
• Never allow children to handle fireworks or sparklers.
• Always keep a portable fire extinguisher and water sources close by.

PETS

Lastly don’t forget about your furry friends on the fourth. You might like fireworks, but they won’t, so make sure they’re somewhere safe and comfortable. ADT also reminds pet owners to make sure that wherever they are to make sure windows, fences, and doors are secure in case a panicked animal tries to break through.

For other tips please visit www.adt.com.