As the summer continues, more and more state authorities are encouraging homeowners and residents to be cautious and alert on home security and safety.

The Connecticut State Police, as reported from courant.com Connecticut News, offers home security tips of their own to the residents:

• Locks Use quality locks on all doors, windows and sliding doors, and be especially careful in the summer months.
• House Number: Make sure the number on your house is visible at night, and light it if necessary, so that responders can locate your home quickly.
• Keys: Don’t leave keys outside your home, even if they are hidden. No matter how clever you are, burglars will find them.
• Neighbors: Know your neighbors, and keep their phone numbers on hand in case of an emergency.
• Foliage: Trim foliage away from doors and windows, so that entryways to your home can be seen clearly from the street.
• Lights: Keep the outside of your home well-lit. Motion-sensitive lights are a good deterrent.
• Timers: Use devices that give the impression that people are home. Use timers for lamps, or keep a radio on, for example.

To those who value home security monitoring system that uses the Internet, there’s good news!

Home-Technology-Store.com and NextAlarm.com®, The Broadband Alarm Company®, have together made an innovative product that’s affordable and has high-quality VoIP-based alarm monitoring services for both residential homes and small businesses. They named this video monitoring service NEXTVIEW.

NEXTVIEW is simple to set up and manageable. It can be used on any existing alarm system that you’re using now. Each camera can be associated with one or more zones, and you can access the images through your cell phone. The system will take pictures every few minutes and it will go on a live video mode when there’s the alarm is triggered. You’ll be able to archive the videos and view them later on. NextAlarm also sees to it that they’ll be able to view the cameras when the alarm goes off to check on your home or for false alarms.

The monitoring system is also compatible with self-installed wireless cameras. NextAlarm is working to expand the compatibility of NEXTVIEW with other cameras.

NEXTVIEW is a very commendable for every family and business who need a god video surveillance system that won’t cost so much. The NEXTVIEW cameras start at $129.95 and the monthly service fee if $5.00. This already includes storage of video, snapshot images, and real-time video. And while it is compatible with other home security systems, NEXTVIEW can also be used alone for your security.

Homeowners who want to keep an eye on their home and family can now avail themselves of video cameras under $50 or get a sophisticated system for a bigger amount. Some homeowners buy about three cameras for $125-$175 at discount electronics stores and install it themselves, connecting them to a TV or a home computer.

With video cameras, a parent can easily watch for her children or a person could check upon his or her elderly parents even when they’re miles apart. Or you might just want to keep watch over a valuable car, or keep track of anyone who vandalizes your home.

Whatever the reason, the use of home videos has definitely been on the rise. It has a great advantage, which is that homeowners will be able to see firsthand what goes on inside their home.

The use of video security cameras first became popular in the late 1980s as cameras became smaller and more affordable. Nowadays, with the Internet revolution, video cameras once again surged upwards becaue of the need of people to monitor their homes from a distance.

With the growing concern for home security and home safety, the home security market is now one of the fastest growing industries. There’s a rising trend in home security solutions and there has never been a better time for entrepreneurs to embark on the home security business.

The National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association has concluded that sales of security alarms and related products will result in an increase of 3.8% per year through 2010.

The home security market is also beginning to become heavily competitive. The integration of alarm systems with home automation solutions is becoming one of the big trends in the industry. All-in-one products and services are on demand. Wireless home security systems are also hitting big time with the customers.

Another trend today involves people who do not have landlines. Home security companies are now aiming to provide home security solutions that people can activate or disarm through cell phones or the Web.

As the home security market grows more competitive, more and more pressure is being placed upon door-to-door salesmen who are required to convince homeowners to purchase home security systems.

Don’t go along with the pressure. Always check the product and the company before purchasing a home security system, or any other product for that matter. Property owners are advised to take their time before signing any contract and purchasing anything.

Take your time in reading literature and information about the company. Ask for a Reliability Report on the company if possible. You can try asking for help with this from the Better Business Bureau.

If you want to cancel a contract you already signed, send a certified letter to the company with notification to cancel your contract. The Federal Trade Commission’s three-day “cooling off rule” allows customers to cancel purchases made at the consumer’s home or at a place where the company does not do business.

Try to ask and see the company’s permit or license, too. Always read documents carefully before signing anything.

Mainland China is contributing a new gas alarm in the world of home security solutions. The HC-A10 gas alarm has been released by Cixi Hongchang Electronic Co. Ltd just this week and is out on the market.

The main highlight of the HC-A10 gas alarm is that the alarm sounds within 20 seconds of leak detection! This is extremely helpful for households and families, especially since gas and fire accidents can happen anytime. The product works at a density range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent for coal gas and LPG, and 0.1 to 0.3 percent for natural gas.

For more information and for inquiries, check on Global Sources Security Products.

The older we get, the more we want our independence. This is the same for senior citizens. A growing concern for the loved ones of senior citizens is how to look after them without invading too much on their privacy. What if you just want to check if your mom or dad took his or her medicine or has taken his or her meal already? What if your miles away from them and you’re concerned for their health?

QuietCare is a home health monitoring system which can be efficiently used for these cases. The monitoring system has been on the market for three years and is one of the rapidly emerging technological innovations in home monitoring solutions. Installation and activation amounts to $400, and the monthly service fee costs $149.95.

The QuietCare home health monitoring system consists of infrared motion sensors in the refrigerator, in the kitchen, inside and outside the bathroom, in the bedroom, and other activity areas.

With QuietCare, it will be possible for a loved one to check up on his or her mom anytime, even when they’re far apart. You can just monitor how your parent is doing by logging on to a password protected website and scanning a quick overview of your parent’s status. With the motion sensors in every activity area, you’ll be able to know whether your parent has been to the medicine dispenser, or to the fridge, or if she hasn’t moved from the bedroom, and so on.

The monitoring system is only recommended for those who are living alone, however. This is to help the system monitor the tracks of only one person, and that any motion can be traced to only one. There may also be an issue about the privacy of the elderly. But they don’t have to worry about that because there are no microphones and no cameras on the monitoring system. The sensors will be enough to inform your loved ones about activities.

You can know more or QuietCare home health monitoring system, visit www.QuietCare.com.