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Family is arguably the most important thing in life. They’re there when you need them, and they make each and every moment of life worth it. Nobody wants tragedy to befall their family, but unfortunately, it happens all too often. Thankfully, most of the things that can harm your family are extremely preventable.

 

With this thorough guide, you’ll learn how to guarantee the safety of your loved ones.

Install a home security system

A home security system is a great deterrent for would-be burglars and assailants. Upon detecting any attempt at forced entry, a loud alarm will go off, alerting you and your family to the presence of trespassers. Police are automatically called, so the assailants have to book it before Johnny Law arrives. It’s not a stretch to say that the type of person who would try to break into your house is also more likely to be the type of person who doesn’t mind harming a stranger, and you don’t want one of your loved ones to be a victim.

Lock doors and windows

A security system won’t benefit you nearly as much if you neglect to lock your doors and secure your windows. It doesn’t take long for any sort of confrontation to escalate towards violence and tragedy. By locking your doors and windows, you’re doing the bare minimum to make it harder for malicious individuals to enter your home and harm your family.

Drink responsibly

A drink or two on occasion is fine, but when you’re heavily intoxicated, you’re putting your own safety and the wellbeing of your family at risk. Getting behind the wheel drunk makes an accident much more likely, and if your family is in the car with you, they are at a much higher risk of grievous injury or death. On top of that, drunkenness makes you clumsy and affects your judgment. It’s not unheard of for a drunk person to start cooking something in the middle of the night, only to pass out, set their home ablaze, and never wake up. By being too intoxicated to function, you are less able to adequately respond to emergency situations or take proper precautions for your family’s health and safety.

Keep in touch

When you or any of your family members are out and about for a long time, it’s good to check in once and awhile. Set an expectation with your family and devise a firm plan for when people should check in, and how much time should pass until someone is expected to check in again. By having your family members send a quick text every few hours or so, you can rest easy knowing that they’re not in any trouble. To make sure this works, have your family members carry a cell phone and charger at all times.

Establish emergency protocols

What will your family do if there’s a fire or other emergency? Where will they meet? Who will they contact? How will you account for every member of your family in a timely manner? These are questions that you should be asking yourself and your family, and you should all come together to figure out the answers to these important questions. Practice fire drills and quiz your other family members on your emergency protocols. A plan like this only works if everyone is on the same page.

Buckle up!

Seatbelts save lives, and buckling up is one of the easiest ways to keep your family safe. Before you put your vehicle in drive, always be sure that every family member is wearing their safety belt. A minor fender-bender is rarely a big deal when everyone is wearing a seatbelt, but it can often lead to serious injury when those buckles are unfastened! Mandating seatbelt use builds a family culture where everyone instinctively reaches for their seatbelt before the car is even in motion, making your family members safer even when they’re outside your purview.

Lock poisons away

Weed killers, anti-pest chemicals, and anything else that may be toxic to humans should be locked away and stored separately from normal, everyday items. These chemicals can leak and lead to cancer and other diseases with prolonged exposure.

Keep paths and entrances unobstructed

It’s easy to trip in a cluttered hallway, and an obstructed stairway is a deathtrap. Entrances and exits should always be clear; you never know when you’re going to have to leave your house in a hurry! If there’s a fire, a simple obstruction can lead to someone falling, being trapped, and possibly dying.

Take care of your family’s vehicles

No one wants to break down on the side of the road. It’s inconvenient, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s unsafe! You and your family are much more likely to be struck by a moving vehicle if you’re stuck on the roadside. Properly maintain your vehicles to decrease the likelihood of a breakdown.

Be prepared for fire and carbon monoxide

Check your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors every month, and have a fire extinguisher on hand. Many cases of death can be attributed to faulty alarms and dead batteries, so it’s always good to check.

Make sure you have life insurance!

In the event that something terrible does happen, you don’t want to leave your family behind with a ton of expenses and no way to pay for it. With life insurance, your family can grieve without also having to worry about paying the mortgage, spending extra money on a funeral, and meeting other financial deadlines. Finding the right insurance solution can be difficult, so the experts at SimpleLifeInsure.com recommend that you carefully browse through your insurance options before you settle on a policy. Your policy will make or break your family in the event of your untimely death, so it’s best to put in that little bit of extra time to keep your family secure.

Hopefully these tips and pointers leave you better prepared to manage your family’s safety. Your family is the most precious thing you have, and you want to do right by them. By understanding how to properly protect your family, you’re taking the proper steps to protect your loved ones.