Fire Damage Restoration Professional Guide - Preparing for a Home Fire
As far as calamitous disasters go there are few things as overwhelming as a fire that destroys your home and belongings. A fire in your residence is a distressing and an intensely draining situation, whether it ruins everything or not. But there are specific measures you can implement to decrease the odds of a fire from happening in your residence. The fire damage restoration team from Paul Davis understands the severe condition of home fires and that's why it's fundamental to know how to plan and prepare your home and what to do when a fire occurs.Form and Implement a Fire Escape Strategy
Safety has to be the first concern when prepping for a home fire, and smoke alarms and fire extinguishers need to be placed throughout the house. Smoke alarms are critical because a fire could spring out of the blue and you have to take action as fast as possible. Another thing to consider with smoke alarms is getting ones that can detect smoke caused from electrical fires. Lastly, any children residing in the home have to be educated on how a smoke alarm sounds when it's triggered and what to do when it occurs. Create fire escape routes and ensure everybody knows about them. There should be two exits from all rooms in the home. You'll also want to have a designated meeting location outside of the home so that you're sure everybody gets out securely. It's also a good idea to create digital copies of worthy documents like birth certificates, and you should consider a strong box to store them in. Record all of your personal possessions as well in the event that they are consumed by the flames. You can either create a list on paper or snap some pictures or videos to catalog your stuff.What to Be Conscious of to Decrease Home Fire Dangers
Although some fires are uncontrollable, here are some precautions you need to implement to prevent a home fire:- Cooking: The kitchen is one of the more vulnerable places for a fire to develop. It's fundamental to be aware of what's in the oven or on the stove, and when you need to step out, have somebody keep an eye on it until you come back.
- Appliances and Electrical: Frayed cords and damaged plugs could easily create a home fire, so be sure to examine your appliances regularly for any problems. Additionally, keep an eye on the switches for your lights because if they're hot, they have to be replaced.
- Portable Heaters: Not under any condition should you allow a space heater alone, and keep flammable or combustible objects three feet away from the heater. It's also imperative for your portable heater to have the right features for safety. For example, the heater turns off when it falls over.
- Fireplaces: Having a suitable screen for your fireplace is integral for the safety of your home and everybody who lives in it. Make sure it's strong enough to prevent sparks and logs that roll. In addition, you should clean and maintain your fireplace and chimney regularly to rid the extremely flammable creosote that develops.
- Children: Store any lighters or matches in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from children to stop their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Educate your children that fire is not something to play with as well.
- Smoking: Indoor smoking makes your home susceptible to home fires, so the finest method to prevent a calamity is to smoke outdoors. If you do smoke indoors, have the suitable ashtrays to inhibit a cigar or cigarette from falling onto the ground. But if somebody in the residence is on oxygen, do not smoke indoors because oxygen is highly combustible.
