8 Things to Include in a Panic Room

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A panic room is a specially-designed secure room in your home meant to protect you and your family in the event that an intruder enters while you are present. It is a frightening scenario for anyone to be trapped in their own home while a criminal lurks about. Having a panic room in your home is a sure way to protect yourself in this unlikely scenario.

Once safely inside with your family, you will be able to not only wait out the situation but depending on how you have the room equipped, you may be able to view the intruder, call the police and protect the systems of your home. Assuming that you have the resources available to you, here are 8 things you should include in your panic room.

Durability

The panic room walls should be of highly durable materials. They should be reinforced steel or concrete at least 1 foot thick. Normal wall materials will not be adequate to ensure the safety of your family, especially from an intruder intent on getting to you. The door should have a vault lock. Don’t rely upon padlocks or deadbolts. Make sure the lock is unbreakable.

Circuit Breaker

Consider that your panic room is just another room when not needed. If you can arrange it, install or move the home’s main circuit breaker inside of it. An intruder will not be able to disrupt the flow of power to your home this way.

Secure Phone Line

First, check to see if you have cell phone reception from inside the closed room. If not, have a secure phone line installed. To be secure, it should be tamper-proof from the outside so you are left with a means of communication outside the home.

Air Pump

The panic room should be ventilated. You don’t know how long you will be forced to remain inside, and you don’t want to run out of oxygen.

Medications

If anyone in your family requires special medications, make certain there is an adequate supply of them inside the panic room for an emergency.

Video Monitors

If you can afford and have need of a panic room, a video surveillance system will not be a luxury. Install cameras in several locations around your home and have a monitor inside the panic room so you can view what is happening throughout your home.

Food and Water

Again, because you do not know how long you will be inside, have plenty of bottled water and enough non-perishable food to last your family several days. It will probably never be necessary, but you never know what could happen.

Firearm

Should the worst happen and the safety of your panic room is compromised, having a firearm and the knowledge of how to use it could be a lifesaver.