As you make the most of the weather, however, be aware of a few seasonal safety issues that summer can bring. Look out for these five dangers and don’t let them cloud your summer.

1: Burglaries increase by up to 11 percent in summer

Between longer daylight hours, homeowners going on holiday and more people being outside, summer is a burglar’s favorite season. Research by the DoJ confirms that you’re most likely to be burgled or have something stolen from outside your home during the summer months.

• Pay attention to outdoor security. If you have a security system, make sure that it’s visible to any prowlers who pass by. For tips, see Alarm.com’s home security tune-up guide.

• Don’t advertise your travel arrangements on social media. If you take a vacation, it’s better to post it afterwards than to notify a burglar about it in real time.

• Don’t have a security system? Getting one is the smartest crime prevention move you can make. For true peace of mind, pick a system with professional monitoring.

2: Home playground equipment is a factor in 200,000 injuries every year.

While kids are remarkable in their ability to dust off a bump or a bruise, home playground equipment can pose more serious dangers. Take these steps to ensure that things stay fun around your playhouse, swingset or trampoline.

• Give your outdoor play equipment an annual inspection. Check for sharp edges, loose bolts, platforms or guardrails, and clear any tripping hazards.

• Most injuries occur from falls to the ground. Consider installing mulch or rubber mats around your play equipment to lessen the impact of a fall.

• Always keep an eye on small children using outdoor play equipment. If your kids like to slip outside without asking you, a contact sensor on your back door is a wise idea.

3: 48% of swimming pool injuries occur at residential locations

Your pool is a huge source of summer fun, but it comes with new opportunities for kids to slip, trip, or worse. To enjoy your pool safely, think like a lifeguard (a whistle is optional) and set some rules.

• Learn pool safety together and enforce it. Make sure that kids have proper floating devices if they’re new to swimming. And always ensure that a supervising adult is present when children are in the pool.

• To avoid slips and falls on wet surfaces, teach your kids not to run and chase each other around the pool.

• Set ground rules that specify when your pool is off-limits. A fence and gate are essential to keep kids out when you’re not there. For extra awareness, attach a contact sensor to get an alert if the gate is opened. Alarm.com’s smarter video alerts can also help.

4: One-third of burglaries don’t require a break-in.

Not all burglaries are carefully targeted and planned. Many are crimes of opportunity. And there’s no opportunity like an open garage, door or window. As you enjoy your outdoor space, be careful what you leave open.

A good security system is your best friend in preventing unlawful entry. Here’s what to look for when you shop for one:

• A connected garage door opener, controlled from your phone, makes it easy to lock up behind you.

• Geo-services technology can send you an alert if you leave home with your front door or garage unsecured.

• Alarm.com’s Scenes commands give you the ability to secure your entire home with a single touch or a voice-controlled Siri Shortcut.

5: Grills cause more than 10,000 house fires every year

You can laugh off most cooking disasters, but not this one. Always grill at a safe distance from your home, its roof eaves, deck railings and any overhanging branches.

• If you grill with propane, check the gas tank hose for leaks once a year by applying soapy water. If you see bubbles, get your grill serviced.

• If you use charcoal, invest in a chimney starter. Never apply charcoal fluid to a grill that’s already lit, and let your coals cool overnight before you dispose of them.

• Don’t leave your grill unattended, and keep children and pets away from it. Last year, 19,000 people went to the hospital for injuries involving a grill.

Want to keep your home safer this summer?

Shaping up your summer security is easy with Computers N’ Stuff + Alarm.com technology. Our technicians can quickly outfit your home with state-of-the-art home security technology, including smart locks, video cameras, and professional monitoring for emergencies, with a single smartphone app to control it all.

To get started, fill out the form below.

Sources: Department of Justice,  US Consumer Product Safety Commission, NFPA, FBI 

Originally designed to catch an intruder opening a door or window, this small device can also trigger smartphone alerts, turn your lights on, and even control a smart thermostat. That’s all thanks to Alarm.com’s Smart Home platform, which turns data from contact sensors into intelligent actions.

What does a contact sensor do?

Contact sensors tell your system if something is open or closed.

They’re typically installed on doors, windows or drawers throughout the house. They have two pieces: one installed on the door itself; the other installed next to it on the jamb. When the door is opened and the pieces move apart, the sensor signals ‘open’ to your security system.

In a traditional security system, the contact sensor’s role is to trigger the alarm. If the security system is armed and one of the sensors on a window or door signals ‘open’, the system will signal an alarm unless disarmed.

In a Smart Home Security system from Alarm.com, the sensor’s role is far greater.  Their status (open or closed) can generate real-time smartphone alerts so you know when a door is opened around the home.  These alerts are easy to customize, so you can set them up to get exactly the important information you want. For example, you can get an alert if a window is open when you go to bed, or if you leave home without closing the back door.

Where else can they help protect?

Because contact sensors are wireless and easy to install you can put them on almost anything that you want to keep tabs on.

• • Protect valuables: Place one on a safe at home or on a jewelry box so you always know if they’re being accessed or if you left it open.

• • Protect your yard: a contact sensor can alert you if someone opens the gate from your yard to the street, or accesses your pool.

• Protect food: a contact sensor can alert you if your freezer drawer is open and your food is in danger of defrosting.

Triggering Connected Devices

As well as triggering alerts, contact sensor can trigger different devices in your Smart Home to act automatically by feeding real-time data back to your system. For example:

• Thermostat setback: If a contact sensor indicates a door or window left open, Alarm.com’s Smart Thermostat will automatically set back to save energy until the door is closed again.

• Smart Lighting: A contact sensor on your yard gate can trigger your porch light to turn on if someone opens the gate after dark.

How do I get them? 

Contact sensors are a component of our Smart Home Security systems and come with your security panel. You can add more to the system as well.

To Learn more, fill out the form below.