In the Situation of a Fire - Plan Ahead and Prepare
As far as destructive disasters go there aren't many incidents as staggering as a fire that destroys your property and personal belongings. A fire in your house is a frightening and an emotionally exhausting event, whether it destroys everything or not. But there are certain precautions you can take to decrease the likelihood of a fire from happening in your residence. The fire damage restoration team at Paul Davis knows the serious situation of house fires and that's why it's vital to know how to prepare your residence and what to do when a fire occurs.Get Your Property Ready for the Chance of a Fire & Always Have an Emergency Plan
One of the more vital things you can do to plan for a house fire is to have safety measures in place. Because not all fires are preventable, being safe is necessary. Every residence needs the right amount of smoke alarms and fire extinguishers located around the property. You should also consider obtaining smoke alarms that identify smoke that is generated by electrical fires because damaged wiring is one of the primary culprits of house fires. Children in the house should be instructed on what the smoke alarm sounds like when it goes off and what to do when it does. Next, get your emergency routes ready. Every member in the property needs to know two ways to escape from each room and where to meet outside when a fire occurs. Additionally, ensure that all members of the household know how to call 911 in the incident of an emergency. It's also an excellent idea to create digital copies of worthy documents like birth certificates, and you should think about getting a strong box to keep them in. Take inventory of your personal belongings too in the event that they are burned up by the flames. You can either create a list or take photos or videos to catalog your things.What to Be Mindful of to Lessen House Fire Risk
Here are a few things to recognize so you can lessen the risks and dangers that are typically correlated with house fires:- Smoking: Cigars and cigarettes are serious threats for fire, and taking your smoking outside is the best way to prevent a house fire. If you smoke inside, make sure you have ashtrays with deep walls and that under any situation you don't smoke in bed or while you're lethargic. Additionally, never smoke inside when someone in the house is using oxygen because this is very explosive.
- Children: Store any lighters or matches in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to avoid their curiosity from starting a fire. Explain to your kids that fire is not something to play with too.
- Fireplaces: Creosote is highly flammable and it develops in your fireplace and chimney after it's been used, so make sure to get your fireplace cleaned regularly. Obtaining a big, durable screen is also vital to prevent sparks from flying into the room and log rollovers.
- Portable Heaters: It's fundamental to place any combustible items at least three feet away from a space heater. You'll also need your space heater to have a control mechanism as well as other safety features such as turning off when the heater falls over.
- Appliances and Electrical: Monitor the switches for your lights to see if they need to be changed out. If they're hot to the touch, that's a sign that they're damaged. Another thing you should do is check your electrical appliances for torn cords and defective plugs.
- Cooking: It's critical to be observant in the kitchen and to not leave cooking food unattended. Always have someone there to keep an eye on what's going on.
