Prepare & Plan for a Home Fire - Guidance from Fire Damage Restoration Professionals
The fire damage restoration professionals from Paul Davis understand how detrimental house fires are. Not only can house fires eradicate your home and personal belongings, but they are emotionally unsettling 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 such as your neighbor's house being on fire or natural disasters. But there are a few precautions you can implement to decrease the dangers of a house fire in your residence.Preparation for Fire - Fire Escape Plans & Property Recovery
All house fires aren't avoidable and there's only so much you can do. That is why it's of the utmost importance to have safety plans in place. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are necessary, and always check that you have the correct number to accommodate your home. But you should consider installing smoke alarms that can identify smoke from fires generated by electricity, because defective wiring is one of the main causes of house fires. If you have kids, you'll want to train them on what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when one goes off. Then have your fire escape program ready. Every member in the home needs to know two ways to escape from every room and where to relocate outside when a fire occurs. Additionally, make sure that all members of the household know how to call 911 in the incident of an emergency. Also, it's a great idea to make digital copies of valuable documents such as birth certificates, and you should think about getting a fire safety box to store them in. Take inventory of your personal belongings as well in the event that they are engulfed in flames. Either create a list on a device or take photos or videos to catalog your things.To Minimize the Dangers of a Fire in Your Home Perform These Measures
While some fires aren't preventable, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of a fire from happening in your residence:- Portable Heaters: Check that your heater has a control mechanism and a thermostat, and it needs to turn off if the heater falls over on its side.
- Appliances and Electrical: Perform a periodic check on your electrical appliances and make sure the cords and plugs are in good condition. If your light switches are hot to the touch, then you need to switch them out.
- Children: Keep any lighters or matches in a place that is out of reach and out of sight from kids to prevent their inquisitive nature from lighting a fire. Teach your kids that fire is not something to play with as well.
- Cooking: It's vital to be conscientious in the kitchen and to not ignore cooking food alone. Always have somebody there to monitor everything going on.
- Smoking: Smoking outside is the a great approach to avoid a house fire from taking place. Don't smoke inside if someone in the residence is on oxygen because it is highly combustible. If you smoke inside, don't smoke in bed and while lethargic and have ashtrays with tall walls.
- Fireplaces: It's essential to clean consistently and inspect your fireplace and chimney for damages and creosote. Get a screen for your fireplace that is durable and large enough to halt logs from rolling and catch flying sparks.