You lock your doors, change your fire alarm batteries regularly, and maybe you even went so far as to have a security system installed. These are all great steps to keeping your home safe from intruders [1] and hazards, but there are a few contemporary threats that you might not have thought of. To find out the most overlooked dangers to millennial's homes we talked to David Laubner. He is Head of Digital Marketing and Sales at Blink, a wireless (and very affordable) security camera company [2], so he knows a lot about the surprising dangers lurking in homes. Read what he had to say below.
Charging Your Phone on the Bed
It's not uncommon to fall asleep with your phone, connected to the charger and still playing a podcast, beside you on the bed. But it is dangerous. "Not only does this disturb your sleep, it can also be hazardous if you have a faulty phone battery which can sometimes even resulting in a fire!" David warns. As tempting as it is to tuck your phone in with you at night, place it safely on the nightstand while charging.
Oversharing on Social Media
Revealing too much on social media can be bad for a lot of reasons, including the security of your home. David explains, "If you check in to distant locations, you could be broadcasting to the world that your home will be empty and a prime target for a break in or that you'll be arriving home late and a good target for an attack."
Setting Your Home Address on Your Phone
With how often you reference Google maps or request a Lyft to take you home after work, it makes sense that you've saved your home address in your phone — but in doing so, you've also given thieves a direct path to your house if they should ever get hands on the device. "Set the home address on your iPhone to an address near your home, but not your actual address. That way, if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to find out exactly where you live," David says.
Overloading Power Outlets and Extension Cords
The red battery icon on your laptop is flashing, your iPhone power is at 1 percent, and your Kindle is dying. With so many devices needing a charge it's easy to find your power outlet and extension cord suddenly filled up. But resist the urge to overload outlets as this can lead to fire! Always plug extension cords directly into the wall, not into other extension cords and be mindful of the voltage limits on your power strips. Putting multiple power strips into a single wall outlet can put you over the voltage limitations.
Forgetting to Turn Off Your Hair Straightener
David warns that this basic styling tool is becoming an increasingly common way to start fires. "Is Your Hair Straightener Off?: This is one question you need to ask yourself before going out," he says. If you find yourself repeatedly having trouble remembering, he suggests you keep a DIY [4] security camera like Blink in the room where you usually do your hair, so you can double check that you turned it off from anywhere.
Not Sharing Security Access
It may seem safest to keep all your security information private, but it sometimes makes sense to share these details with a close family member or trusted friend who can watch out for you in case of emergency; for example, David says, "if you have a security camera that links directly to an iPhone app, position it towards your front door and allow your parents or a close friend access so that they get a notification as soon as you've arrived home safely after a night on the town."
Ignoring Your Neighbors
Walking the dog while checking emails or riding the bus while browsing the web on your phone has become de rigueur, but in self-isolating you're missing a valuable opportunity to connect with your neighbors. "In case of intruders, your neighbors can be a huge help. They'll likely be the first to notice or hear if something is wrong, and can call 9-1-1 if you're unable to get to a phone," says David.