Less Lethal Guide · Free practical tool

10-Minute Home Safety Check

Walk through five everyday areas. Leave with a short list of things to check, fix or discuss.

10 questions · No email required · No purchase needed

Published by Less Lethal Guide, a Prepare To Act resource · September 18, 2026 · Research-assisted educational checklist

A useful starting point

This is a planning checklist, not a home inspection or a safety certification. Answer only what you know. “Not sure” gives you something useful to check next.

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0 of 10 answered

Doors & windows

1. Exterior doors latch and lock properly.Check the door you use most and any accessible exterior entry.

2. Accessible windows close and secure properly.Check from inside, without climbing or taking a risk.

Lighting

3. Entry lighting works where I need it.Look at the route from your parking area or sidewalk to your door.

4. A working flashlight is easy to find.Check it now rather than assuming the batteries work.

Alarms

5. Smoke alarms have been tested recently.Use the manufacturer's test instructions. USFA recommends monthly testing.

6. I know what my other alarms actually do.Consider carbon monoxide and any door, window or security alarms.

Emergency planning

7. My household knows the escape routes.Keep doors, stairs and usable escape windows clear.

8. We have a meeting place and contact plan.Include children, pets and anyone needing assistance.

Privacy

9. Home-device accounts use unique passwords.Think about Wi-Fi administration, cameras and doorbell apps.

10. I have checked who can access my home information.Think about shared camera access, location sharing and old users.

Keep going at your own pace

Make a home safety plan

Turn doors, lighting, alarms and communication into a manageable routine.

Read the home safety planning guide

Understand personal alarms

Learn what a sound-only alarm can and cannot do, and which features matter.

Read the personal alarm guide

Compare door alarms for apartments and travel

Check mounting, power, door fit and setup before choosing a magnetic sensor or portable wedge alarm.

Read the door-alarm guide

Want the free Starter Kit?

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What is your backup when the power goes out?

Start with light, add a way to receive weather information, then consider power for the small devices you actually need. Compare three researched options and their limits.

Explore the three-level power outage safety kit →

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Sources and scope

Prepared using U.S. Fire Administration: escape planning; smoke alarms; American Red Cross: emergency planning; FTC: home Wi-Fi security. Source material checked September 18, 2026. Adapt checks to your building and the people who live with you. For an immediate emergency, move to a safer location if possible and call emergency services. Use qualified help for electrical work, lock repairs or concerns you cannot safely assess.