Contributed by Terri Engels
When people think of crime-ridden locales, it may be images of bustling city backdrops that dance in their heads – the kind of area where you wake up to the sounds of sirens instead of the call of a rooster. While it’s true that bigger cities have a more tangible element of crime, it must be noted that rural areas have their own unique set of infractions.
For some, there is no compromise when it comes to rural living, whether you’re raising livestock or simply putting a high value on peace and quiet. The perceived serenity of living in a more secluded home can make people forget about the dangers of this lifestyle. In fact, it has been documented that cities are actually a safer place to live than the rolling hills of the countryside.
So, for those that insist on horses over highways, what steps can you take to make sure you and your property are safe?
Living in beautiful, yet isolated settings has its downfalls. Image by mendhak.
Protect Your Property
The first line of defense when it comes to your safety is your home, which means that fitting it with burglar deterrents is a must. One solution is to invest in a high quality security system. Relying solely on standard door locks is antiquated in any setting but is frankly downright dangerous if you live on the outskirts of town. Just over sixty percent of burglaries are from forced entry; this means that standard modes of security are just not cutting it any longer. Further, many burglars will be able to take more time breaking into your property due to the lack of neighbors and passing cars.
Nowadays you can invest in smart door locks that stop burglars in their tracks. One company, Goji, has unveiled an automated approach to locking your home. For example: what if you’re 30 miles away and a family member stopped by the house? With automation, you can utilize your smart phone and unlock your door right from where you are; you can also see real time pictures of whoever is trying to enter your property. You can even have technology like this set up on shed doors and barn entrances.
Rural properties also suffer from a lack of artificial light once the sun goes down. However, smart lighting solutions are solving that problem. One in three consumers are likely to use smart home solutions by 2018 and lighting is leading that charge. The ease of use and low cost are turning even the most secluded home dwellers into smart home technology mavens.
So, how can smart lighting help rural home dwellers combat a burglary? Simply put, burglars can’t stand lights. Being able to control your whole property’s lighting system can protect your home, farm, barn, etc. You can program your light system to turn on and off from any smart phone or computer – this can give you complete control and ensure that burglars never think your property is vacant.
Lastly, a robust video security setup could be your best defense against rural robbers. Much like the aforementioned security solutions, video surveillance technology has made leaps and bounds recently. Not only can you outfit the perimeter of your sprawling property with cameras, but you can also cover the interior too.
You never want to believe that a burglar will actually enter your property, but it’s all too common, especially in rural environments. This makes having a video surveillance system so important. You can actually set up cameras in important points within your house and get notifications if anything is spotted near those areas. Do you happen to have a well-stocked gun cabinet in your home? Now you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’ll be the first to know if someone is trying to infiltrate it.
Personal Safety
The other side of the coin when it comes to living in a secluded area revolves around health concerns. Rural living is intrinsically independent and can be especially detrimental to senior citizens. Thankfully there are a myriad of options when it comes to living healthily and off the beaten path.
One way to achieve peace of mind when it comes to personal health is to look into smart medical alarm systems. These solutions can be the difference between life and death when you are on your own, away from civilization. You can opt for devices that contact medical help professionals immediately if disaster strikes. This also comes into play when environmentally-motivated events are at hand; for example, your monitoring device can alert you about a fire and contact the proper authorities immediately.
All of these solutions can enable you to live out your days in a secluded splendor and be safe in the process.
