Should You Install Electronic Door Locks?

by onlinefinancialnewsletters | Aug 29, 2016 | Personal Protection

Traditional house keys may soon go the way of rotary phones thanks to new lock technology. From fingerprint sensors to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled systems, keyless entry products are rapidly transforming the way Americans secure the doors to their homes. Are these easy-access locks the right choice for you? If you’re not comfortable with technology, they probably won’t be. However, if you have no problem programming your DVR, universal remote and household thermostat, a keyless lock may be a good option.

Types of Keyless Locks Available Now

• Biometric locks recognize your fingerprint, allowing you to unlock your home with a swipe of your finger. This type of keyless lock requires you to program it with your fingerprint as well as those of the rest of your family or others you want to allow to access your home.
• Proximity locks use RFID technology and work with a key fob that you carry with you. Much like electronic car door locks, you can unlock or lock them with a press of the fob button. Some don’t require you to remove the fob from your pocket or purse first, either—a handy feature if you regularly enter or exit your home after dark or often have your hands full.
• Smartphone-controlled locks synch with your mobile phone via Bluetooth. This allows you to control entry to your home remotely as well as track who is coming and going. Some of these locks will actually text you when someone else opens your home’s door. Others will automatically unlock your door when you approach it.
• Keypad locks, the earliest type of keyless locks available for homes, are still a good option as well. They all require you to program an entry code, though newer, more complex models may allow you to have individual codes for specific people or even program a greeting that will play when the door is unlocked. Surveillance varieties take photos of whoever opens the door.

Prices for electronic door locks range from $100 to more than $1,000, depending on the type of lock and features included. While they can make entering and exiting your home easier—unless there’s a power outage or the circuit board fails—they aren’t necessarily more secure than traditional keyed locks are.

Burglars generally enter homes through unlocked doors or windows or by forcing open a window or door. If security is your main concern, you’re probably better off investing in solid wood or steel exterior doors rather than the latest electronic lock technology. Door jams reinforced with steel plates will also make it more difficult for an intruder to kick in the door.

Whether you opt for traditional keys or a new, high tech electronic lock for your home, it’s important your property is adequately insured in the event of a break in. If you don’t currently have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, talk to an insurance professional about your options. If you already have a policy, it’s wise to review your coverage at least once a year and make appropriate adjustments.

Car Seat Safety

by onlinefinancialnewsletters | Aug 14, 2016 | Personal Protection

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. In 2013, 638 children ages 12 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes. Another 127,250 were injured.

Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented with the use of a proper child safety seat. Car seat use reduces the risk of death for children under age 1 by 71 percent and children ages 1 to 4 by 54 percent. Booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury in children ages 4 to 8 by 45 percent compared to the use of seatbelts alone.

If you want to ensure children riding in your car are doing so safely, you’ll need to do the following:

• Know your state’s child passenger safety laws. While requirements vary based on age, weight and height, all states require child safety seats for infants and certain children. Many require children to ride in the rear seat whenever possible, as well as the use of rear-facing infant seats, forward-facing child safety seats, and booster seats for older children. You can review state-by-state laws here.
• Make sure the car seat is appropriate for your child’s size and age. Rear-facing car seats should be used from birth to age 1 at minimum. However, it’s wise to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat until he/she reaches age 3 or outgrows the height and weight limit specified by the manufacturer. At this point you can transition your child to a forward-facing car seat until he/she is age 7 or again outgrows the manufacturer’s height and weight specifications. Booster seats are recommended for children age 7 and older who cannot fit in a seat belt correctly without one.
• Only buy car seats rated and recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These seats meet Federal Safety Standards as well as strict crash performance standards. You can find a list of NHTSA rated car seats, along with information on their ease of use, here.
• Make sure you install and use your car seat or booster seat properly. Seats must be carefully installed according to the owner’s manual instructions. If you need assistance, you can consult a child passenger safety technician (find one here) or visit a car seat inspection station (find one here) in your area. Local law enforcement agencies may also hold periodic car seat inspection events.
• Put your child in the middle of the vehicle. When travelling with one child or only one child in a safety seat, place it in the center of the backseat. In the event of an automobile collision, this is the safest location in the vehicle.
• Register your car seat with the NHTSA.Unfortunately, recalls happen. If you want to avoid using an unsafe car seat that has been recalled, you can register with the NHTSA to receive notices about safety-related defects and recalls.