This is a guest article written by Bryan Morris.

When the topic of a home electronic security system comes up, most people have the instant response “I don’t need a burglar alarm.  I have a gun/dog.  All my stuff is insured.  I’ll help them load it!”  These sentiments are understandable, but they don’t really reflect reality.

The number 1 purpose of a Life Safety System is to increase the safety of the people who live in the house.  An intruder rarely gives enough of a warning for a person to grab a gun, and dogs are easily defeated if the intruder has decided to go through them or around them.  If we keep somebody from stealing your tv, that’s nice, but that’s not the point.

After homeowner and intruder come face to face, there is no way that this day ends well!

With a home security system, we first hope to achieve deterrence (most intruders would rather just go somewhere else, rather than pick a fight with a security system), and if the break in happens, we hope to limit the amount of time the crook has before somebody in the outside world takes action.  The first 2 calls are typically to the home owners, then we call law enforcement. After that, we usually make 1 or 2 further calls, just to make sure we have made a reasonable attempt to let somebody know what is going on.

The most important thing about a home system, however, has nothing to do with crime.

Every home system should also have monitored smoke detection.  If you have a 2:00 in the morning fire event, maybe you get out and maybe you don’t (by the way, you probably don’t), but with monitored smoke sensors, you have a statistical probability of emergency responders being on site 7 minutes before the fire flashes to open flame.  That evening ends a whole lot better than the alternative.

Bryan L. Morris, President
American Detection Specialists, Inc.
440-A S. Cavalier
Springfield, Mo 65802
417-883-6254 or 800-400-6254 or 417-335-8830
www.americandetection.com & www.gesecuritypro.com