Fall Into Safety With Security Tips for the Season with MasterLock + Door Security Lock GIVEAWAY!

Fall is here and that means are days are getting shorter. It is a good time to make sure that your family is safe. It is also a good time to practice those safety drills that you might have in place. If you do not have any  drills in place, it's a good time to start getting some. Master Lock is helping families fall into safety this season with five top tips so that parents and children can enjoy the crisp autumn air without worry.

Follow these top five tips from Master Lock to stay safe this fall:

1. Be aware of surroundings. As dusk and darkness creep up earlier each day, remind children to follow safety precautions on their way to and from home. Whether walking all the way home or just to a parked car, students are advised to be aware of their surroundings, stick with a friend or in a group, stay in well-lit areas, avoid short cuts and always observe traffic rules. 

2. Establish a "home alone" routine. Sometimes situations arise where children and teens will be home without supervision, whether coming home after school to an empty house or due to busy weekend activities. It's natural for parents to feel uneasy at first, but with some planning, both parents and children can feel confident when the time comes. Set guidelines with your children to follow when home alone including, locking the door immediately after entering the house, calling to check in as soon as he or she gets home, not answering the door for any visitors and reviewing relevant emergency phone numbers and exit plans. Instead of hiding an extra set of house keys beneath a door mat or under a nearby rock, the Master Lock 5422D Portable Key Safe is the perfect solution for securely storing house keys outside so that children (or parents) are never left locked out. 

3. Set ground rules for social media sharing. Teens are sharing more information about themselves on social media sites than ever before*. As parents, it's necessary to evaluate the information your child is sharing and advise them on security risks of sharing too much identifying information. Set ground rules for what your child can disclose online, and teach your child how to set privacy controls so that photos, location and personal information do not end up in the wrong hands. 

4. Lock down valuables on the field. Lockers help keep gadgets, wallets, house or car keys and other belongings secure while in class, but what keeps them secure outside of school? Keep valuables locked up with a small, portable safe, such as the 5900D SafeSpace, which kids can easily fit in their backpacks, gym bags or lock down to a fixed object while attending after school activities. 

5. Inspect to protect. While talking with your children about safety guidelines, fall is also an ideal time to create or practice a fire safety plan. Start with inspecting your home thoroughly ensuring all smoke detectors are functioning properly and review the sound of the alarm with children so they know what do to when it goes off. Make an evacuation plan by visiting each room in your home, designating two ways out and check that all windows and doors open easily. Lastly, designate a safe meeting place outside the home where your family can gather after exiting. This meeting place should be close to the home, but not too close to be in danger from the fire, and in front of the house so that fire safety personnel can easily see you as they arrive. It should also be somewhere easy to find in day or night, such as near a telephone pole, tree or mailbox. Most importantly, practice the escape plan.

I know we are always prepared for any emergency. I am also very conscious of home security as well. I am a Los Angeles girl so I am always aware of my surrounding. I am always making sure my doors are locked and everything secure.

We live in a very safe town. Our neighbors never lock the doors and never worry. But not me. I am always prepared. One of the products that I have to help me is the MasterLock Door Security Bar Lock. I love it. I use it all the time on the door that leads out to our sun room in the back of the house. It is a great lock that secures any sliding glass door.

Door Security Bar Lock Product Features:

* Dual function door security bar for hinged and sliding doors
* Resists forced entry through doors and sliding patio doors.
* Adjusts from 27-1/2" - 42" to fit most standard doors and sliding patio doors
* Top piece removes for sliding door application
* Rugged 20 gauge steel construction
* Pivoting ball joint assures full contact with floor
* Padded foot provides sure grip without scratching

Thanks to MasterLock, I have a Door Security Bar for one lucky reader. If you would like to win a Door Security Bar Lock, then enter on the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules: One entry per person per day. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.