In the Case of a Fire - Prepare and Plan Ahead
As far as detrimental emergencies go there aren't many events as overwhelming as a fire that damages your property and belongings. A fire in your property is a distressing and an intensely draining situation, whether it consumes everything or not. But there are certain measures you can implement to lessen the odds of a fire from occurring in your residence. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis understands the severe condition of house fires and that's why it's crucial to know how to prepare your house and what to do when a fire happens.Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
When it comes to house fires, not all of them are can be in control and can't be stopped. That is why the most crucial thing for you to do is have safety procedures in place. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are necessary, and make sure you have the right number to suit your home. But you should think about installing smoke alarms that can catch smoke from fires generated by electricity, since damaged wiring can be a cause of house fires. If you have children, you'll want to instruct them on how the smoke alarm sounds and what to do when one goes off. Other precautions include outlining emergency routes in your residence. Design a plan and ensure everyone in the house knows the emergency fire escape routes – there should be two exits for every room in the house. It's also necessary to have a planned meeting spot outside so you know who gets out of the house. Something else you need to do is protect your important things like passports, photographs and birth certificates. You can create digital replicas and place them into cloud storage as a backup, and you can get a strong box to keep the hard copies secure as well. Finally, make a record of all your personal belongings for insurance purposes in case they're burned up by the flames.Things to Be Cognizant of to Minimize Home Fire Risk
Even though some fires aren't avoidable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of a fire from occurring in your residence:- Portable Heaters: It is imperative to relocate any combustible items at least three feet from a space heater. You'll also want your space 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: Make sure to do a routine examination on your electrical appliances and ensure the plugs and cords are in working condition. Also, when your light switches are hot to the touch, then it's time to switch them out.
- Children: Train your children that fire is not something to play with, and be sure to keep your lighters and matches in a location that's out of sight and out of reach.
- Cooking: It's crucial to be aware in the kitchen and to not leave cooking food unattended. Without exception have someone there to monitor everything going on.
- Smoking: Cigarettes and cigars are severe fire perils, and smoking outside is the perfect way to avoid a house fire. If you smoke indoors, see that you have ashtrays with deep walls and that under any situation you don't smoke in bed or while you're drowsy. In addition, not under any situation should you smoke indoors when someone in the house is on oxygen as this is very explosive.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is very flammable and it forms in your fireplace and chimney after it's been in use, so always get your fireplace cleaned and maintained regularly. Having a large, sturdy screen is also crucial to avoid sparks from flying into the room and log rollovers.
