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KT For Good: Safety begins at home in UAE

Our latest KT For Good campaign brings you helpful tips you need to #BeSummerSafe.

In the UAE, summer safety is a community affair.
Authorities intensify patrols to crack down on burglars and launch awareness drives to prevent fires. Experts warn residents of health hazards. Trusted neighbours offer to check on one's home from time to time. Friends and relatives volunteer to look after pets. Centres ensure plants are taken care of.
The Ministry of Interior - along with the police force of every emirate - takes the lead in ensuring that homes are safe while residents are away.
Right at the beginning of summer, the police have launched security and home safety campaigns across all platforms, aiming to educate vacationers on the measures they need to take to protect their homes from theft and fire.
Brigadier Ahmed Saif Al Muhairi, head of the department of community security at the Abu Dhabi Police, said: "Families travelling for long summer holidays should properly guard their homes using reliable locks. They must also keep their valuable items, including cash and jewellery, in secure safe boxes or in banks.
"Residents should instal surveillance cameras in their homes, as well as alarm monitoring systems that can alert security operatives and other homeowners of any suspicious movement inside or outside the house."
Free security services
In Dubai, besides summer safety awareness, the Dubai Police offer free home security service to residents who would be leaving for vacations.
Cops on horses or in patrol cars pull up in front of vacationers' houses and watch over the residences of those who have signed up for the home security service.
Residents can register for the service at the Dubai Police website; via the app; or by filling out a form at the nearest police station.
According to the Dubai Police, registration for the home security service programme has increased since its launch in 2001.
Countering burglary
Authorities also said it had helped reduce the rate of burglary incidents in recent years.
Last year, the Sharjah Police also launched similar services. Recently, the Sharjah and Ajman Police stepped up measures to prevent thieves from trying to sneak into people's homes during summer.
Patrols are deployed 24/7 at residential areas to prevent these neighbourhoods from become burglary targets. And, as a precaution, the police across the country always call on people going on holidays not to let anybody - including their household staff - know where valuables are kept.
Fire safety
As part of their 'Have a Safe Summer' campaign, authorities also issued fire safety guidelines as the risks of house fires are higher during the hot weather.
Early this month, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence urged residents to take extra precautions and double-check all electrical connections in their homes before leaving for their holidays.
Appliances must be unplugged, they said, and no electrical equipment must be left in operation.
Officials said families must comply with all requirements to keep their homes fire-safe, especially this July, which experts have said would be the hottest month of the year.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com