In the Circumstance of a Fire - Plan Ahead and Prepare
As far as cataclysmic emergencies go there are few things as devastating as a fire that damages your property and personal possessions. A fire in your property is a harrowing and an emotionally exhausting situation, whether it consumes everything or not. But there are specific measures you can take to lessen the likelihood of a fire from occurring in your house. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis knows the severe condition of house fires and that's why it's crucial to know how to plan and prepare your property and what to do when a fire occurs.Get Your House Ready for the Chance of a Fire & Always Have an Emergency Strategy
Safety should be the number one priority when prepping for a house fire, and smoke alarms and fire extinguishers need to be placed throughout the home. Smoke alarms are critical because a fire can come out of the blue and you have to do something as fast as possible. Something else to consider with smoke alarms is buying ones that can recognize smoke produced by electrical fires. Finally, any children residing in the house have to be instructed on how a smoke alarm sounds when it goes off and what to do when it occurs. Then have your emergency routes in place. Every member in the home should know two ways to get out from every room and where to meet outside when a fire occurs. Also, ensure that all members of the household know how to call 911 in the case of an emergency. Making a record of your personal property is an excellent idea for insurance reasons just in case all your stuff is demolished by the flames. You'll also want to store important things like birth certificates and passports in a fire safe box, and you can make digital replicas and upload them to a cloud drive for back ups.To Minimize the Risks of House Fires Perform These Measures
Although some fires are out of your power, there are some precautions you need to execute to prevent a house fire:- Smoking: Inside smoking makes your residence vulnerable to house fires, so the best method to prevent a calamity is to smoke outside. If you do smoke inside, have the suitable ashtrays to inhibit a cigar or cigarette from falling onto the ground. But if someone in the house is using oxygen, do not smoke inside as oxygen is extremely combustible.
- Children: Children are inquisitive and fire is fascinating for them, so educate your children that fire is not a toy. Also, store your matches and lighters in an area that is out of reach and out of sight.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is extremely combustible and it develops in your fireplace after it's been in use, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned regularly. Obtaining a big, strong screen is also crucial to prevent sparks from flying into the room and log rollovers.
- Portable Heaters: It's imperative to keep any combustible items at least three feet from a portable heater. You'll also want your portable heater to have a control mechanism as well as other safety features such as turning off when it falls over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Examine your light switches to see if they have to be changed out. If you touch them and they're hot, that's a clue that they're damaged. Another thing you have to do is check your electrical appliances for torn cords and broken plugs.
- Cooking: Remain in the area at all times while food is on the stove or in the oven and don't leave it unattended. If you have to step out of the area, get someone to watch over the food until you return.
