Fire Damage Repair Professional Advice - Preparing for a House Fire
The fire damage restoration professionals at Paul Davis understand how damaging house fires are. Not only can house fires destroy your home and personal belongings, but they are emotionally jarring and make you feel unsafe. Fires can occur without a moment's notice and can be caused by a number of things, and they can be out of your control like your neighbor's house being on fire or natural disasters. However, there are a few precautions you can take to lessen the dangers of a house fire in your home.The Importance of Fire Escape Strategies
One of the more essential things you can do to prepare for a house fire is to have safety practices ready. Because not all fires are preventable, being safe is necessary. All properties need the correct amount of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms placed around the property. Additionally, you should think about purchasing smoke alarms that trigger from smoke that is produced by electrical fires since faulty wiring is one of the primary causes of house fires. Children in the house should be taught what the smoke alarm sounds like when it's triggered and what to do when this happens. Some other precautions consist of outlining emergency routes in your home. Design a strategy and ensure everybody in the house knows the fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for every room in the house. It's also essential to have a designated meeting place outside so you know who gets out of the house. Additionally, it's an excellent idea to make replicas digitally of valuable documents like birth certificates, and you should think about getting a fire safety box to store them in. Record all of your personal belongings as well in case they are engulfed in flames. Either create a list or take pictures or videos to record your things.Things to Keep in Mind to Decrease House Fire Dangers
Although some fires are uncontrollable, here are some steps you should implement to prevent a house fire:- Portable Heaters: Never leave a portable heater unattended, and keep flammable objects three feet away from it. It's also imperative for your heater to have the correct features for safety. For instance, it shutting off when it tips over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Make sure to do a habitual examination on your appliances and ensure the plugs and cords are in good condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then you need to switch them out.
- Children: Keep any matches or lighters in an area that is out of sight and out of reach from children to prevent their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Explain to your children that fire is not something to play with as well.
- Cooking: Stay in the kitchen at all times while you're cooking and don't leave it alone. When you have to leave the kitchen, get somebody to watch over the food until you come back.
- Smoking: Outdoor smoking is the best approach to avoid a house fire from happening. It's crucial to not smoke inside if someone in the house is using oxygen since it is highly combustible. When you smoke indoors, don't smoke in bed and while lethargic and have ashtrays with tall walls.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is extremely flammable and it builds up in your fireplace after it's been in use, so always get your fireplace cleaned and maintained regularly. Getting a big, strong screen is also vital to prevent sparks from entering the room and rolling logs.
