MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwired - Jul 7, 2016) - The way students learn has changed from years past. According to a recent study, seventy-four percent of teachers* claim technology enables them to reinforce and expand on content and nearly half of North Americans own at least one tablet**. With today's schools and educational resources evolving, it's important for families to make sure they are up-to-speed on how to keep valuable school supplies properly stored and secured.

"With more tablets, laptops, and electronic calculators encouraged -- and even sometimes required -- at schools, back-to-school shopping can get expensive," said Rebecca Smith, vice president, marketing for Master Lock. "However, something that's often missing from the back-to-school shopping list is security products. It's important to ensure your family's electronics stay protected or you may have an even more expensive bill on your hands -- a costly electronic replacement."

Master Lock is providing these "Back-to-Safety" tips to help keep students and their valuables safe and secure this school year.

  • Familiarize Yourself With Your School: Your first day in a new environment can be overwhelming. If possible, head to campus or your school building prior to the first day of classes and find your classroom, test your route to class and explore the campus or facility. It's important to learn the buildings' exits, emergency protocol and evacuation plans and the location of the nurse's office or school health center so you can be prepared for the unexpected.

  • Use a Trusted Locker Lock: Perfect for lockers, Master Lock's innovative, technology-based Indoor Bluetooth Padlock (4400D) is operated by a Smartphone versus a combination or physical key. Not only does the product appeal to tech-savvy students but also to parents who are concerned about their child forgetting their locker lock's combination. The product has an award-winning design and is feature-rich, allowing authorized users to control their padlocks, monitor the padlock's activity and share digital keys. Equally innovative, the 1500iD Speed Dial™ Set-Your-Own Combination Lock which opens with a combination of directional movements, is easy to use and comes in four vibrant color options (red, purple, blue and black).

  • Secure Your School Supplies: School bags and gym bags include important school documents, personal information, homework and valuable items, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and money. Attach the easy-to-use Master Lock 1550DAST Backpack Lock, which comes in four bold colors to help identify your bag. Or, use the versatile Master Lock 1548DCM Set Your Own Combination Padlock. This added layer of protection will help deter possible theft and provide peace of mind so you can worry less about your belongings and focus on enjoying the school year and extra-curricular activities.

  • Add Safety Precautions to New Living Quarters: For those living on college campuses, dorm living is an adjustment. While it may be fun to pop in and out of your neighbor's room to study or watch TV, it's important to remember that all your possessions, such as electronics, remain in your dorm room even when you are not. Keep your valuables securely stored to help protect against theft and other vulnerabilities. For smaller electronics and other valuables, such as cell phones and MP3s, use the Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace portable mini safe and for your laptop, consider the SentrySafe PL048E Portable Laptop Safe.

For more back-to-school safety tips, visit the Master Lock website or connect with Master Lock on social via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.

About Master Lock
 The Master Lock Company is recognized around the world as the authentic, enduring name in padlocks and security products. Master Lock Company offers a broad range of innovative security and safety solutions for consumer, commercial, and industrial end-users. Master Lock Company LLC is an operating unit of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc., a leading consumer brands company. Headquartered in Deerfield, Ill., Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information about Master Lock visit www.masterlock.com.

*According to a 2013 survey of 503 U.S. pre-K-12 teachers conducted by PBS via VeraQuest, Inc.
**According to a 2012 Survey of 2,392 U.S. households conducted by Grunwald Associates, LLC.

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