ProtectUs Security specializes in installing business security systems in Dallas Texas, as well as home security systems.

At ProtectUs Security, safety is our number-one priority. Although we specialize in installing home security systems in Dallas (and business security systems in Dallas, too!) we believe in practicing safety in all forms!

Summer Grilling Safety

Barbecuing, cooking out, grilling…whatever term you use, using a charcoal or propane grill is a classic

summer tradition that results in fun times with family and friends and delicious steaks, chicken,

vegetables, and more. But 16,600 people went to the emergency room with burns from grills in 2014,

and two-thirds of all grill fires occur during the summer months. Read on to find simple ways to use

your grill safely, so you can enjoy all its benefits without stressing about its risks.

Preparation is Key

Grills should be located at least ten feet away from landscaping and any portion of the house, including

garages, porches, and patios that are attached to the building. Never grill under a wooden overhang, in

case of a sudden spurt of flames, and place the grill on a level surface to reduce the chance of a tip-

over. Be sure to also store propane tanks far away from the house, and be sure they are completely

turned off. Make sure your grill is in an outdoor, open space where carbon monoxide will not build up.

Never use gasoline to power a grill, and if you have a charcoal grill, use only lighter fluid designed for

grilling. Make sure hanging baskets, pillows, umbrellas, and furniture are far away from the grill,

especially since synthetic materials are liable to burn fast and hot.

When you first pull out your propane grill for the year, check for blockages in the hoses, especially in

the tube that runs to the burners, and clear any problems with a pipe cleaner. Feel along the hoses for

brittle spots, and check for gas leaks by making a solution of one part water and one part dish soap and

rubbing it over the hoses. Open the lid and turn on the gas. If any large soap bubbles form, that means

there are either cracks in your hoses, or the connections aren’t tight enough. Be sure your grill is clean

and free of grease and fat build-up. Make sure hoses are away from hot areas and not in the path of any

potential drips. Be sure to continue these inspection and cleaning practices throughout the season at

times when the grill is cool. Go over grill safety practices with your children in advance of your first

cook-out.

Grill Wisely

Before you start up your grill for a meal, be certain you’ve thoroughly planned all cooking steps and

have laid out all the ingredient you’ll need within reach of the grill. Leaving a grill unattended for even

a moment while you run inside to grab a seasoning could result in an emergency. Also, overloading a

grill, especially with fatty meats, is liable to cause a sudden burst of flames.

Never turn on a grill while the lid is closed, as this can cause gases and fumes to build up inside and

then release a fireball once the lid is finally lifted. Be sure to protect yourself with an apron and oven

mitts that go up to your forearms, and use long-handled tools for stoking the grill and moving food

around. Keep pets, children, and adults who aren’t involved in the meal prep at least three feet away

from the grill. Have a spray bottle of water within reach in case of minor escaped flames – fortunately,

if the water gets on your food, it won’t ruin your meal. Also have a fire extinguisher within reach and

know how to use it! If a large fire starts and you can’t get the fire extinguisher to work immediately,

give up and call 911 from a safe distance. According to fire crews, many deaths and injuries occur

when people try to fight a fire themselves instead of getting professional help right away. If you smell

gas while cooking, immediately move away from the grill without touching it further and call the fire

department. If the flame goes out while you're cooking, turn off the grill and the gas and wait fifteen

minutes before re-lighting.

After cooking

The grill will remain hot for a while after use. Be sure all the parts have cooled before you try to clean

it, cover it, or store it. Thoroughly soak coals from a charcoal grill with water before disposing of them.

Be sure your grill is well-covered to prevent curious insects and critters from getting into it or chewing

on the hoses.

In case of emergency

Always call 911 in case of fire if you have no fire extinguisher, if you don’t know how to use a fire

extinguisher, or if a first attempt at using a fire extinguisher does not work immediately. Remember

that fires double in size every minute they keep burning. Even if a fire extinguisher is successfully

employed, call the fire department so they can assess the scene and put out any flames that were

missed or alert you to any structural dangers.

If someone receives a minor burn, treat it right away by removing any clothing or accessories from the

area and running the burn under cool water. Do not cover burns with bandages, butter, ointments, or

salves. For anything worse than a surface burn or if you have any doubts about how to provide care,

call 911 right away.

ProtectUs Security cares about your safety and hopes you have a fun and tasty grilling season! If you

have any questions about fire safety, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

(Planning a vacation this summer? Let us keep an eye on your home while you’re away! Contact us about installing a home security system in Dallas and beyond!)

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Keep Your Home Safe While You Vacation this Summer!

Your bags are packed, your airline tickets are booked…but is your house ready for you to go on vacation? Follow these simple tips to keep your home safe while you’re out of town!

Your home security system in Dallas, Texas can keep an eye on your home while you’re away!

Be Careful on Social Media

Don’t publicize the dates you’ll be gone on Facebook, Twitter, and other websites where criminals may be able to access what you post. Communicate privately with anyone who needs to know your itinerary; otherwise, you may as well send out invitations for people to try to break into your house while you’re gone! Also, be sure that your voicemail message, home answering machine message, and email auto-reply don’t say that you’re away from home. Stick with “I can’t come to the phone right now” or “I’m out of the office.”

Phone a friend

Arrange to have a trusted friend or neighbor keep an eye on your place while you’re gone. Ask them to walk or drive by your place once a day and make sure everything looks all right, and give them a spare key so they can check on any possible problems and perform any essential household chores, such as feeding your gerbil or watering your plants. You might also want to leave them a spare car key if you park your car outside – you never know when a vehicle will have to be moved. Also have this person collect mail or newspapers, so they don’t pile up outside and announce to the world that no one is home. (You can also go online or contact your local post office and newspaper delivery company and ask them to put a temporary stop on your service.) If you’re going to be gone a really long time, ask your house-watcher to mow your lawn occasionally, because an unmowed lawn is as obvious a sign as a week’s worth of newspapers on the front porch. If someone other than your house-watcher will be stopping by (say, a cleaning service or a designated cat sitter), be sure to let them know about each other so they don’t call the police when they see someone else at your empty home! (Also, remember to give each person access to your home through your Dallas home security system so that you do not have an accidental call to the police!)

Let Your Home Security System provider Know You Will Be Away

Be sure to let your Dallas home security company know that you’ll be out of town, and if a friend or neighbor is looking after your house, provide the company with their name and phone number. (Be sure to leave security codes and pertinent phone numbers for your friend or neighbor too!) If you’ll be gone for a week or more, consider letting your local police know about your trip. If you live in a small town, they may be able to drive past your place occasionally. Be sure to let the police know about anyone who is supposed to be visiting your house while you’re gone.

Get ahead of potential problems

If you leave a hidden key under a lawn decoration or above your door frame, remove it while you’re on vacation. If a criminal does manage to learn that you’re out of town, they may go looking for a spare key on your property. Lock up valuables and important documents that you’re leaving behind in a fire-proof safe, or take them to a safe deposit box. Unplug your microwave, computer, toaster, television (unless you plan to put it on a timer), and any other appliances that don’t need to run while you’re away. This will protect them from power surges and prevent possible fires that could go unnoticed till they’re too big to handle, and it will also cut costs on your electric bill, as many devices use power even when they’re turned off. You can also raise the setting on your air conditioning (85º is a good bet) and change the setting on your water heater.

Keep up appearances

Leave your curtains as you normally have them. Closing the curtains may keep someone from peering inside to see whether or not someone is home, but it can also prevent neighbors or police from seeing inside in the case of a suspected break-in. Plus, keeping all the curtains closed for several days is a dead-giveaway that the occupant is out of town. If you normally open and close your curtains throughout the day, consider leaving some open and some closed, or leave them open but make sure to have lights go on and off in those rooms. Investing in a couple of z-wave smart light switches and lamp/appliance modules is one of the best things a home security system in Dallas can do to protect your home while you’re away – having lights go on and off at logical times (think of when and where you normally use lights during the day) is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than leaving some lights on for the duration of your entire trip, and it gives the appearance that people are still in the house. You can even plug your TV and radio into an appliance module and turn them on and off remotely to further the illusion that someone is home.

You definitely don’t want to be worrying about home safety while you’re trying to enjoy your vacation, and you don’t want to have to deal with any crises once you get home. Follow these simple preventive measures before you leave, and home will be safe and secure while you’re off having fun! Let us help YOU install a home security System in Dallas so you can enjoy your vacation this summer