Top Tips for Fire Safety

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

Top Tips for Fire Safety

When a fire starts, there is a limited time for you to escape or find a safe place. Some fundamental tips for fire safety will help you to be prepared in case of an emergency.

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
2. It is also essential to ensure the alarms are working correctly, checking them monthly and changing batteries whenever needed.
3. Be attentive in the kitchen, and keep kids and pets away from heaters and candles.
4. Ensure that an adult is present if you have something frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling.
5. Only purchase space heaters that shut off automatically when they fall over, and always place them on level, nonflammable surfaces.
6. You must get out fast if a fire occurs in your home. Sit down with your family and work out an escape plan in advance.
7. If you have children, teach them what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
8. If an electric appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately, then have it serviced before using it again.
9. Replace any electrical cord that is cracked or frayed.
10. Plug only one electrical cable into each receptacle.
11. Avoid running any lines under rugs. Don't tamper with your fuse box or use improper size fuses.
12. Make sure everyone knows how to call 911.
13. If a fire occurs in your home, get out, and call for help.

After a fire is handled, there are some tips you should implement as part of your recovery process, such as:

• Pay attention to how you and your loved ones are experiencing and handling stress.
• Check the outside of your home before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams, or other damage. Damage on the outside can indicate a severe problem inside. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.
• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from embedding into upholstery and carpets.
• Keep hands clean. Soot on hands can further soil upholstery, walls, and woodwork.
• Blow or brush vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, drapes, and carpets.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery, and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty the freezer and refrigerator, and open prop doors.
• Discard any food that has been exposed to heat, smoke, or soot.
• Clean and protect chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim, and appliances with a light coating of Vaseline or oil.
• Wash house plants on both sides of the leaves.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

At the same time, there are some tips about things you shouldn't do after a fire, such as:

• Attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces without contacting a professional.
• Attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first consulting your professional.
• Attempt to clean any electrical appliances, TV sets, radios, etc., that may have been close to fire, heat, or water without first consulting an authorized repair service.
• Use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water. (They may be contaminated.)
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if the ceiling is wet. The wiring may be wet or damaged.
• Send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each requires a unique solution tailored to the specific conditions. When various materials burn, the soot and residue they create change significantly and require a specific cleaning procedure.

This is why at SERVPRO of Martin County, we work hard to give the best support and service, making this process as easy as possible for you and your family! First, we must balance the damage caused by fire, smoke, and water (from firefighting efforts). This is important to know what we need to do during the first specialized cleaning process.

We also have a specialized fire and water damage cleanup team, professionally trained and equipped to restore all spaces to the even better condition they were before the fire. Our purpose is to make you feel stress-free about the restoration because you are in excellent hands, and everything will return to normality as soon as possible!

If you have any questions about the process, timing or costs, please do not hesitate to contact us at (772) 334-8762 or visit us at 1235 NE Savannah Road, Suite 102, Jensen Beach, FL 34957.