Deep cleaning, window coverings and a fresh coat of paint are necessary to add to your PCS moving checklist. In addition to preparing your old home for the big move-out, it’s essential for you to cover some basics in your new home before you move in.
If you don’t do anything else, ensuring that your new home is optimized for safety is vital. The devices and gadgets needed to keep your family safe may not be glamorous or exciting, but they are crucial for your peace of mind and well-being.
Add these devices to your PCS moving-in checklist and make them a priority before you spend your first night in your new home.
Home Safety Tips
When you think about home safety, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For most, it’s security systems, flood lights and cameras. You know, all of the gadgets to keep the bad guys away from your family and assets. While home security is important, there are other safety measures you should take before moving in.
First Aid and Disaster Kits
If you do one thing to improve your safety at home, make sure you have a good first aid kit that’s easily accessible. The kit should be able to handle triage for serious cuts, burns or bone and muscle injuries. While we’re on the subject of kits, every home really needs an emergency or disaster kit.
Whether tornadoes, earthquakes, floods or fires are the natural disasters in your neck of the woods, be prepared to evacuate or hunker down and ride it out. Make sure the kit you build or buy addresses the following:
Disaster Kit Items
- First aid
- Flares or flashlights
- Blankets
- Non-perishable food
- Water
- Tool kit
Place your Disaster or Emergency Kit in an area of your home where you may expect to evacuate or hunker down. This can be your basement, a downstairs closet or even your garage if you believe you’ll go there first before leaving the house.
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are required by law in many areas of the country, but they are also key to keeping you alert while you’re busy living your life. You can purchase a combo smoke and carbon monoxide detector to help keep the clutter down on your walls and ceilings.
Make sure to schedule a check-up every month or two. This is important and all too easy to forget, so treat it like an appointment and place it on your calendar or in your planner. In case your detectors lose battery, keep an extra stash of batteries around. This way, you don’t have to suffer the loud beeping that occurs when they run out of juice.
Fire Extinguishers
The last thing you want is to find that your smoke detectors are working, but you don’t have anything to put out the fire. Place fire extinguishers in a few key locations.
The kitchen is obviously the first area that needs a fire extinguisher. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also place one in your utility room as well as one near your electrical box. If you’ve got a multi-level home, make sure there’s one on every floor. Remember, these need to be checked every year. The only thing worse than having no fire extinguisher when you need it is having one that doesn’t work!
Power Sources
Once you’ve got those basics down, you want to learn how to shut down the power to the house in an emergency. Know where all the sources are and how to turn them off. Start with the gas valve — behind the stove is the most common location. Some models require a special wrench to turn it on and off, so make sure you’re set up with what you need.
Next, find the electrical box. These days, electrical boxes can be located nearly anywhere in the house, but start by looking in closets, utility rooms, or even in the garage. Make sure the switches are labeled by room so that when electrical work needs to be done in the house, you don’t have to shut down power to the whole house just to put up a ceiling fan in the bedroom.
Finally, you want to know where to shut off the water. You’ll usually find this near the water meter on the outside of the house or buried in the yard underneath a metal cover. Plumbing problems get a lot worse when they also become flooding problems!
More Like This: As mentioned above, home security is also vital to your family’s safety. Review the Best Home Security for Military Families to get started!
Child Home Safety Tips
It’s no secret that babies and children can be quite unpredictable. From getting into cabinets with potential dangers to sticking things in outlets, they find ways to push boundaries. Therefore, you’ll want to anticipate any trouble they can get in and mitigate those concerns with these safety devices.
Baby Gates
Baby gates are great for stairs and the entry or exit point of any rooms you wouldn’t want your little ones wandering into. Add baby gates to your PCS moving checklist to keep your children and pets safe, as well as any assets you wouldn’t want them to potentially destroy.
Window Latches
Once children reach a certain age, they will want to open all of the doors and windows. Window latches are wonderful to have as the kids get big enough to start wondering about what’s outside of that second-story window. These devices are easy to install, discrete and keep healthy curiosity.
Outlet Protectors
We’ve all heard horror stories of kiddos sticking their fingers, or forks, in outlets. You can get the simple plug-in variety of outlet protectors, but you can also find them in more attractive styles that cover the entire outlet.
Cabinet Locks
Install locks on any cabinets you wouldn’t want your child to enter. For example, any areas that contain chemicals, water valves, pipes or the toilet plunger should probably have a lock on the door. This will not only keep your child safe, but it will also prevent them from making a huge mess.
Looking For Your Next Home?
Are you still in the market for your next military home? Whether you are renting near your next installation or want to purchase a home, AHRN is a great resource to start with. Personalize your military housing search and enjoy the convenience of browsing rentals or homes for sale that match your needs.