Issue #020
A motion light aimed at the walkway beats a porch bulb left on all night
Plus the refill you should call in before the long weekend hits.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 · Home Safety
Your side gate, your back slider, and the window above the AC unit are the three ways into your house that nobody looks at. All three are dark right now.
Today’s Skill
Light the path, not the yard
Aim motion lights down at the walkway, gate, and driveway apron. Light pointed out at the yard blinds you and hides everything behind it. Set the sensor low enough to trigger at the sidewalk. Cut shrubs below window height so there is nowhere to crouch. Drop a cut broom handle in the slider track. Then save two neighbor cell numbers in your phone and text them so they save yours.
On The Radar
Late August heat plus a full classroom
The hottest part of the day now lands late in the afternoon, right when kids walk home and evening practice starts. Keep cold water in the car and watch for headache, cramps, and a person who stops sweating. Get them cool and call for help. Schools are back, so colds move fast again. Refill any maintenance prescription before the holiday weekend crowds the counter, and keep a case of bottled water for a heat driven main break notice.
The Drill
Ten minutes outside after dark
Tonight, once it is fully dark, walk the outside of your house with a flashlight. Stand at every door and window and see what a stranger sees. Note which lights never trigger and which corners stay black. Fix one thing before bed: re-aim a fixture, swap a bulb, or put a bar in the slider track. Then text one neighbor your number.
Ready beats lucky.
- Survival Rise
P.S. Tomorrow: the one item in your first aid kit that expires without warning.