WHAT IF THERE IS a FIRE...help me out here...?

Question

my family and I just moved to a new house, we used to live in an apartment w/ a security system, the house we moved into is very nice, but i didnt relize that the neighborhood was a little on the getto side, anyway there are 3 bedrooms 2 up and 1 down. @ night I cant sleep because the children are upstairs and we are downstairs. Im so afraid of someone breaking in or there being a fire.. I have never had my children so far away from me at night..before bed everynight I lock up the house and turn everything electrical off, and i still cant help but worry, I have considerd sleeping on the couch, is there anyone else out there going through this and what should I do.. would it be crazy of me to get a LARGE dog? would it do any good?

Answer 1

I would buy a lot of smoke detectors and be sure to install them properly and keep the batteries changed as recommended.  Then I'd buy an escape ladder to keep in the kid's rooms, they fold down from a window in case of fire or emergency like that.   For break-ins, a dog is a good deterrent, make sure he is friendly enough to not attack your kids, but territorial enough to scare off trespassers.   You could even check on window alarms that go off if windows are jarred or opened.  I think they sell those at most home stores and they aren't really expensive.   And Pray.   Don't forget that.  If you don't ever get a good feeling about the neighborhood, I'd be looking for a new place.   Peace of mind means a lot.  Good luck.

Answer 2

Get a security system and a dog.  The security system would at least include a smoke detector, heat sensor, carbon monoxide detector, door sensors and maybe motion detector.  You could get this installed by a number of companies with a small monthly charge for monitoring.  

I would call this a must with small children about.  The gun idea with so many small children around gives me great pause.  

Get a dog as well.  You don't need a 100 pound killer dog.  A 20-40  pound dog that is good with small children and barks it's head off will do.  Dogs are great security systems as thieves hate attention.  And, is a great friend for the kids.  Make sure all doors and windows are secure and the locks are of the type that are hard to break bypass.  A security system guy can also give you advice on the current condition of you home.  My wife and I have monitored security(about $27/month).  We've had the security system long enough to qualify for free installation even if we move to a new house as well.

Answer 3

I would create a fire plan, and do monthly fire drills.  Be sure your children can follow it.

Try, giving you 6 year old, the job of helping the other children out of the house. Perhaps, you'll need to move your youngest down stair until s/he  is no longer in a  crib.

Buy the fire ladders, the kind that go on the windows. Teach your children how to use them.  If needed have your husband build a windo box, around the ladder, so that your children do not have to attack them to the window. They just have to open the window box.

Be sure to have a safe spot. Tell the children if there is a fire, to met you at the mail box, or a neighbors house.

Teach them fire safety: Stop, drop, and roll, to feel door before opening it, etc.... Teach them  if they can't go down the stairs, than it's ok to break a window (if they can't open it) the important thing is to get out of the house, and to help each other get out of the house if they can.

As far as someone breaking in: get a dog, and train him. Don't go over board, a dog that barks at someone is enough to give you warning that someone is in your home. You don't need an attack dog around your children.

Have a plan. If someone breaks in:  it's mom's job to get the children and dad's job to keep the robber busy. (fight, or do whatever he can to give mom enough time to get the kids out.)

Figure out who will call 911.

Protect your house, with things you are comfortable with. Keep a baseball bat next to your bed.

Our house was broken into, a few month ago. it's a very scary feeling. Luckily no-one was home, when it happened (1 PM on a Sunday afternoon). We went to our local home store and purchased a few item to make our home safer. Noise makes that go off when a door/window is open. (can help with you children also, if they open a window/door you'll know it.)

Answer 4

what you would have to do is have the 5 & 6 year olds help with getting the 1 & 2 year olds out of the house if you cant make it up there in time. you should train them that is there is a fire, what to do and how to help the siblings. We have the same issue in our house, I would be the one to get my little brother out of the house. I was watching NBC last night, and it said dogs don't respond to robberys because most robbers bring dog treats along. (They were getting this from a real person who robbed houses & stuff.) Make sure you have a good security system on your house. Make sure you have a phone upstairs, and your kids know how to dial 911.

Answer 5

To help ease your mind you could install combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in all of the children's rooms.

     We use these in our house:

http://www.thenerds.net/KIDDE.KIDDE_Nigh...

     As to the security of your home, a large dog is an option, but a good investment would be a security system on the land/phone line of the house. There are many options; do some research in your local area and see what your Police Dept. recommends.

   Hope this helps. :)

-AF

Answer 6

Buy an alarm system, we have one, and also, get a pitt bull.

Answer 7

yes, buy a dog

Answer 8

How about some smoke/fire detectors in the halls?

Answer 9

I would get a security system.  I would not get a dog because dogs can get outraged at young children.  I would also teach your older children how to get out of the house safely with the younger siblings incase you can't make it upstairs to get them and plan a meeting place and practice it regularly.

Answer 10

To assure your own peace of mind, installing smoke detectors will let you know as soon as a smoke-producing fire starts. They can wake anyone whose not dead. Get a fire extinguisher, if you can't put out the blaze immediately it'd still buy you valuable time.

As for home security, I'd advise you to exercise your Second Amendment rights and buy a firearm, educate yourself on safe storage and firearms safety. Keep it in a sturdy locked cabinet where the kids can't reach. Keep your gun cabinet key on your key ring, and keep that by your bedside. The cabinet with the gun should be in your bedroom. If you are not confident you can load ammo when you're under stress, keep it loaded. An unloaded gun isn't much use.

A dog can react unpredictably in these situation, especially if they are used to being family pets friendly to everyone.

99% of small-time burgulars will run like the wind when confronted with an angry person with a shotgun.

Answer 11

Hahaha, lady, I live in a ghetto neighborhood.  In fact, one could consider me to be ghetto, yet here I am answering your questions on yahoo answers ( I'll be civil, I am a person after all ).  Let me inform you that ghetto people ... are not stupid, they'll steal your stuff if there is no one at home ( that way they won't get caught ).  I'm just kidding, they won't.  Anyways at this age, and at night, should be the least of your concerns.  When they are old enough they will surely mingle with the ghetto, then you will probably have some real problems.  Sorry lady.

Answer 12

don't mother your children so much...

my parents slept downstairs along with my younger sister.

but my other 2 siblings and I slept upstairs at much the same age as your kids.

If your worried about security because of the area you live in, then maybe you should have done some research.

Do you want a huge dog around kids that are so young???

Answer 13

Yes u can buy a dog to help u out.Just keep in touch with ur neighbours so that they can help u in times of fire etc.Put ur burdens on the lord and be free .If u still have this kind of doubts then consult a doctor.Because some people have this kind of disease and i have read it in the magazines.Good Luck!!!