The heat of summer is here, and that means the 4th of July is rapidly approaching. This All-American holiday is a chance for family and friends to gather and celebrate the founding of our nation. With less folks heading out of town due to the economy, parties look to be better attended than ever before. Keeping that in mind, here are some tips to enjoy the 4th safely.

Exercise Caution with Fireworks: Every year, hospitals report more injuries due to fireworks than ever before. Like many other things, alcohol and powerful fireworks don’t mix well. Likewise, young children generally don’t have the experience and restraint to handle fireworks safely. Keep them out of trouble by limiting the risk (but not their fun!) to less dangerous sparklers.

Don’t Forget Home Security: Regardless of whether you venture down the road to a friend’s house, or across the country to visit family, don’t forget to set your home security system. Burglars know just as well as you do that the 4th often rides in accompanied by a long weekend, and they’re ready to sweep in. Heavily advertise your home alarm to keep out intruders.

Be Careful With the Barbeque: The last thing you want to do is to bring the Fire Department screaming down the road in response to a signal from your home security system. Keep fires contained, especially if you’re using charcoal. There’s no need to send up a five-foot high flame to cook a couple of hot dogs. Avoid flare-ups by never using lighter fluid after the coals have already been lit. Better yet, buy a gas grill with a simple ignition button.

Never Drink and Drive: The 4th of July has one of the highest rates of drunk driving out of any day of the year. Keep your family safe by limiting your consumption of alcohol, and waiting at least a couple of hours before getting back on the road.

The 4th of July is a wonderful chance for you to gather with friends and family to celebrate the founding of our great country. As long as you keep safety in mind, you’ll enjoy a fun, accident-free party.

One of the unpleasant things associated with the recession and the rise in unemployment is what some believe is a corresponding rise in the crime rate. As normally honest, hard-working people find themselves without jobs, on occasion some of these people turn to crime to make ends meet. Police chiefs across the country agree that crime seems to be ticking upward at a frightening rate. In fact, many are calling for increased hiring, even in this time of budget cuts.

A recent article in the Scientific American noted that New York City suffered 54% more bank robberies in 2008 than in 2007. You may not have a billion dollars locked away in the vault, but you and your family still deserve a safe, secure home. So what can you do to protect yourself, regardless of whether there are more cops on the road or not? One way to help you feel more secure is a reliable home security system. With a powerful home alarm, you have the capability to stop criminals in their tracks.

Some companies rely on one command center to maintain patrol over all of their customers. That’s simply not good enough these days. Weather, power outages, and even computer hacking are all complications that must be taken seriously. ADT monitored security systems can help secure your home with a total of four connected command centers strategically spread throughout the country to diffuse the risk. When one goes down, the others are able to immediately pick up the slack.

Lately, you may have noticed some of your other investments decreasing in value. That’s all the more reason to feel great about putting your hard-earned money into a reliable home security system. For a very low initial outlay of money and a bit of cash each month, you can provide your family with a reliable home alarm system setup.

Are your kids home from school this summer? Are you leaving for a week to get away to the beach? There are more things to worry about this summer than choosing the right home security system to protect your loved ones and home. Let us help you ensure that you are making the right decision when it comes to picking the best home security system for you and your family.

There are a lot of details that will need to be considered when picking a home security system. What is your budget? How do you find the best alarm company? What features should you look for? The following home security alarm buying guide will help you to make the best decision for you and your home.

What do you want in a system?
With today’s advanced technology, homeowners have many options for a home security alarm system. While fire and burglar systems are the most common, you can extend your needs to carbon monoxide detection, propane/gas leak detection, water sensors, and even video surveillance systems. Discuss your needs with an alarm expert and you will find they will be more than helpful in recommending components for home security that will protect you and your family.

What are some of the features you want?
While the home security company you choose will be able to go over some of the features they offer, you should have a detailed list of some of the features you require. Some of these features may include a back-up system in case the power goes out, Or, if the telephone line becomes inoperable, as this is a direct line of communication between the monitoring company and your home.

What is your budget?
A home security alarm system can vary in cost from state to state. However, you should be able to get a basic system installed for under $500. You will need to know what your budget is for this project when you start your search for an alarm company. When you interview each company, they should set up a time to come to your home so they may provide you with a detailed cost estimate of the system, as well as what the system would include. This estimate should be provided to you at no cost.

What alarm company should you use?
When you first start searching for alarm companies to set up a home security alarm system, you may find it somewhat confusing as there are a lot of different alarm companies and each claims to be the best. The leading provider in home security systems, ADT, can help you with all of the above questions when it comes to choosing the right provider.  An ADT home security system offers many features and benefits, including home security systems available in a variety of levels. An ADT security system can offer you monitoring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with easy-to-use one-touch keypads and wireless keychains. The most important thing you should understand is that a home security system can save your family’s life in an emergency situation. ADT home alarm and security systems are full-home monitoring you can count on. That’s why ADT is America’s #1 choice for home security.