There has been a lot of talk about Panic Rooms in the news and media. From movies to television panic and safety rooms are a hot topic. However, they may not be on the top of the discussion list amongst friends, family, other homeowners, and neighbors. It may seem like these highly fortified safe havens are only for the rich and famous, but the reality is that a safety room may just buy you enough time in an emergency situation to successfully summon the authorities. In the highly communicative world of today, time is everything when it comes to a home invasion. The more time an intruder has prior to being interrupted by authorities, the more liberties the intruder will take, and the greater the chance is of physical harm being caused to family members- instead of just your belongings. If thinking about constructing a panic room as part of your home security system, here are some of the top factors to consider.
1. Timing is everything. A panic or safety room serves one real purpose, to buy you time. Unless you are looking to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to construct an impenetrable hidden fortress in your home, the chances are someone who has enough time, resources and patience can eventually gain entry. The idea is to make the amount of required time to gain entry far greater than the amount of time required to summon the authorities. Elect a room that has a singular point of entry, as in a singular door. Fortify this point of entry with lock strike plates and a strong lock like a keyless Grade-1 deadbolt. The stronger the better when it comes to installing a safety room door.
2. Keep it stocked. The room must be emergency-ready at all times. It’s not enough to be hidden away in the panic room; there must be a form of communication with the outside world available. The best bet is a cellular phone which has good signal from within the room to make fast calls for help. Other essential items are food, water, and a first aid kit. It’s best to be prepared for the worst, since an intruder’s attack on your home is always unplanned. Some families may elect to place a home security system panic button or keypad in the panic room, while others will simply install an electric outlet for charging and maintenance of the cellular phone. Regardless of the method chosen, communication with the authorities is imperative.
3. Know how to use it. Having a panic room is not nearly enough to guarantee safely escaping all dangerous home invasion situations, no more than having a home alarm system guarantees nobody will ever attempt to break into your home. The key, as with any tool, is to use it correctly. Go over the procedure for use of the panic room, especially with children, over and over again in a non-threatening manner. Let children know how to summon help, so that if they are alone in the panic room the authorities can arrive as quickly as possible. The intruder may not even be aware of the child’s presence in the home, thereby increasing the chances that everyone will be rescued and get out of the home safely.
As with any method used for home security, adt home alarms are as effective as the user allows them to be. To get the most out of home security systems be prepared, and be informed. Consult with the professionals at ADT to make the most of your home security system.