From the additional freedom to the ability to set your schedule, there are plenty of benefits when it comes to living alone and having your own space. Unfortunately, living alone can also increase your risk of potentially dangerous situations, such as break-ins and robberies, whether you’re at home or spend most of your time outside of your home.
As such, you should always consider additional safety concerns and the steps you can take to stay safe while living alone. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can stay safe while living alone, and we’ll look at five of them below.
1. Get To Know Your Neighbours
Being friendly and getting to know your neighbours is always a good idea, and knowing your neighbours can be one of the most effective ways to feel more secure when living alone. They will not only be able to identify suspicious people and vehicles that do not belong on or near your property, but you can also enlist their help and support in keeping an eye out for you when you are not at home or on vacation.
As such, take the time to Introduce yourself to a few friendly neighbours, exchange phone numbers, and agree to keep an eye out for each other whenever possible. Not only will this make the entire neighbourhood safer, but you also get the chance to make a few friends along the way.
2. Invest In A Security System
Investing in the right security features is the first step in staying safe while living alone. Interconnected smart home security systems are becoming increasingly popular and are a great way to keep an eye on your home through your smartphone while you’re away.
Security cameras, in particular, are a great place to start. These allow you to keep an eye on what’s happening while you’re away from home, and they can make any would-be burglar think twice about targeting your home. Even if they do, the additional evidence of CCTV footage can assist authorities in capturing the culprits more quickly.
Motion sensor spotlights are also an excellent way to keep intruders out of your property. They not only add security while walking around your property at night, but they can also help you and your neighbours identify anyone attempting to break in before they start.
Consider our smart front door video intercom system for added safety and security. These devices come with live video streaming, smart device connectivity, and two-way communication that lets you see and talk to whoever is at your door from the comfort of your home or even while you’re on the go.
3. Be Aware Of Dangers in Your Home
Apart from external threats, you should also be careful of your home’s potential dangers. If you’ve never lived alone or owned or rented a house, you may need to be aware of common safety hazards, such as carbon monoxide, asbestos, mould, or potential fire safety hazards.
Installing carbon monoxide detectors and photoelectric fire alarms can help keep you safe indoors. These devices will notify you of any potentially harmful changes in your home environment. If you live in an older home, it may be worthwhile to hire an inspector to look at the premises to see if everything is in order.
4. Incorporate New Habits And Precautions
You can keep your home and yourself safer by incorporating specific steps into your daily routine. When living alone, you should consider the following to help keep yourself safe:
- Keeping all your doors and windows locked while you’re away or at night.
- Close your blinds while you’re away and at night.
- Turn on your outdoor lights when it gets dark.
- Avoid walking alone while at night.
- Try to bring in your bins and mail during the day.
- Have an exit plan during a fire or break-in scenario.
- Report any suspicious activity to your local homeowner’s association or relevant authorities.
Taking precautions and exercising common sense are two of the most effective ways to protect yourself while living alone, and they will help you avoid various potentially dangerous situations.
5. Have Your Loved Ones Check In On You Regularly
You don’t have to be alone in your personal and home security strategies just because you live alone. Set up regular check-ins with friends and family so that if you go missing, someone will notice. You should also invite people over frequently to make your home appear busier and less likely to be a target for a break-in.
Furthermore, your physical and emotional well-being are essential aspects of staying safe. As such, it’s always beneficial to have people over to check on you to ensure you are doing well.
Choose PSA Products To Keep You And Your Home Safe
As a long-standing security system supplier, PSA Products provides effective modern solutions to keeping you and your home safe and secure, with a diverse range of intercom, CCTV, and home security systems. Get in touch with us to learn more about what we can offer you today!