There’s a common notion that in troubling times, it’s every man for himself, especially when resources might be running low and everybody wants to survive through trying times. But for a particular community to prosper, it’s important that each element of the community work together. This is easier said than done when safety measures and guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic expects us to stay at home throughout much of the year.
Security will always be an integral part of our daily lives. In fact, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs would say that security is one of the most basic needs for us for self-actualization and fully develop as humans. Of course, there are a lot of factors that can affect an individual’s sense of security and safety. One of the major influencers to the concept of safety is having a secure home and your own personal space.
But even though you want to ensure that everyone around your community is in good health by helping your local community through these troubling times, it’s still important to think of the welfare of you and your family. Not everyone in the community will have the same drive to help others, and there will be others that want to take advantage of what’s happening to rob and break into homes. That said, it’s important that we consider our home’s security even though we want to help others. After all, a sense of community should always start at home.
So what are some ways of helping the community while keeping your home secure? How can you be a good neighbor during the pandemic without risking contamination and other risks? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Improving Your Home’s Security and Safety
First and foremost, it’s important that you and your family prioritize keeping your home safe, sanitized, and secure. Not only will the public health crisis affect how individuals should be cleaning their hands and sanitizing their home, but this can cause shifts in the social climate. Thus, you’ll need to keep a variety of factors in account when you’re securing your home.
One factor that you’ll need to keep in mind is the weather conditions in your area. While your home should also be designed to keep “uninvited” guests out, your home will also need to stand the test of time by being designed for the most common weather conditions in your area. For instance, if your home is situated in areas with hailstorms and strong winds, you’ll need to install an impact-resistant roof that can also withstand high winds that could go for a hundred miles in an hour.
Your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) is also an important factor. Recent studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that infections related to COVID-19 are more prevalent in homes that don’t have good air circulation. Homeowners will need to be mindful of their home’s air quality and circulation since this can cause a variety of respiratory issues.
But it’s not just going to be your home’s interiors that can be affected by such environmental factors: your lawn and garden are also known for being vulnerable to the natural elements. Wooden fences and concrete walls can easily break if not given proper attention. Not only are broken walls and fences unsightly, but most malicious individuals will target homes that aren’t taken care of. But with aluminum fence panels, you’ll be able to easily protect your home’s exteriors from the natural elements while keeping uninvited individuals out.
Not only will this set a clear border between you and your neighbors, but these fences are high enough to keep individuals out. Essentially, you’re killing two birds with one stone. Not to mention that it’s quite classy.
Helping Your Community
Now that we’ve addressed the concern of security and safety for your home, you can start helping your neighbors that are having a harder time. You don’t necessarily need to bend over backward for your community, as there are simple ways of doing it. Here’s what you can do:
- It’s best to start shopping locally and buying fresh produce. This is a great way of boosting the local economy as you are ensuring that different local businesses in your area will have the financial capabilities of surviving during these uncertain times.
- Stocking up in a responsible manner should always be your priority when shopping. Most individuals will hoard goods and necessities, which can cause problems. While most are mindful of the fact that there might a limit in supplies, you will need to just have “enough” for you and your family so that others can also have enough supply in the span of 6 months.
- Lastly, you can check on your neighbors through social media platforms and messaging applications. Although you want to extend a helping hand for them, social distancing should always be observed.
While being “close” to your neighbor during a public health crisis is the last thing that you should be doing, you can always help them through other ways without putting yourself at risk of exposure to virulent agents. But even though you might want to give back to your community, it’s always important to first start with having a secure home that you can come back to at the end of the day. After all, you can never go wrong with safety and security during troubling times.