In the Scenario of a Fire - Prepare and Plan Ahead
The fire damage restoration experts from Paul Davis know how disastrous home fires are. Not only can home fires decimate your property and personal belongings, but they are emotionally unsettling and make you feel insecure. Fires can happen in a matter of minutes and can be provoked by a number of things, so a lot of the time they're out of your control such as your neighbor's house being on fire or natural disasters. But there are a few steps you can take to minimize the dangers of a home fire in your residence.Always Have an Emergency Plan in Place
Safety has to be the first concern when getting ready for a home fire, and fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should be placed throughout the home. Smoke alarms are fundamental since a fire could spring out of the blue and you have to do something as quickly as possible. Another thing to think about with smoke alarms is buying ones that can detect smoke caused from electrical fires. Finally, any children residing in the home have to be instructed on how a smoke alarm sounds when it goes off and what to do when it happens. Other precautions include outlining emergency routes in your residence. Create a plan and make sure everyone in the home knows the emergency fire escape routes – there needs to be two exits for each room in the home. It's also fundamental to have a designated meeting place outside so you know who gets out of the home. Taking inventory of your personal property is an excellent idea for insurance reasons just in case all your stuff is damaged by the flames. You'll also want to keep important things such as birth certificates and passports in a strong box, and you can make digital copies and upload them to a cloud drive for added measure.Things to Be Cognizant of to Decrease Home Fire Hazards
Even though some fires aren't avoidable, there are a few things you can do to decrease the prospect of a fire from developing in your residence:- Smoking: Cigarettes and cigars are extreme fire threats, and smoking outside is the perfect approach to prevent a home fire. When you smoke indoors, make sure you have ashtrays with deep walls and that you never smoke in bed or while you're drowsy. Additionally, never smoke indoors when someone in the home is using oxygen since this is very combustible.
- Children: Store any matches or lighters in a location that is out of sight and out of reach from kids to avoid their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Explain to your kids that fire is not something to play with as well.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is very flammable and it builds up in your fireplace after it's been used, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned regularly. Having a big, durable screen is also imperative to prevent sparks from entering the room and log rollovers.
- Portable Heaters: It's imperative to keep any combustible or flammable objects at least three feet away from a portable heater. {Additionally,} you'll want your portable heater to have a control mechanism as well as other features for safety such as shutting off when the heater falls over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Perform a periodic examination on your electrical appliances and make sure 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.
- Cooking: The kitchen is one of the most vulnerable spots for a fire to occur. It's vital to be attentive to what's on the stove or in the oven, and when you need to step out, have someone keep an eye on it until you come back.
