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© Trellicor 2010

2008/07/11

Setting up a safe room

Choose a room with as few windows as possible and a door that opens outwards. The bathroom is often the best place for the safe room as it usually has only one window to secure, and also has a toilet and running water.

Fortify the door with a high quality sliding security barrier fitted inside the room. This is especially important if you only have hollow core internal doors that could easily be kicked open.

Fit sliding security barriers to the windows. These will be an escape route for the entire family or a single member that can summon help after slipping out. In the event of a home invasion, you could shout for help out of this window, or sound an air horn to attract neighbours' attention.
Keep a spare set of keys for the security barriers inside the safe room.
Have a panic button fitted at child-level in this room, or make sure a portable one is permanently left here.
Keep the supplies you'd need in an emergency in a cupboard or on a shelf in the room.

Emergency supplies include a mobile phone and charger (some have battery chargers available now); a first aid kit; a torch (keep a fresh supply of batteries); water and food; defensive weapons such as pepper spray. If a family member is on regular medication or is inclined to have panic attacks, keep supplies of these medicines in the emergency supply kit.

Have emergency numbers stored in the mobile phone.