The Top 5 Tips You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe
The fire may be over, but the danger can still remain. After a fire of any kind, you and your family could be in danger from utility issues, residual sparks and embers, structural damages, and smoke inhalation. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a fire, use these safety tips from the experts at Good Life Fire Restoration to keep yourself and the people you care about safe.
1: Prioritize Injuries and Get Medical Help
If anyone involved or in the proximity of the fire has been injured in any way, it’s important to receive proper medical attention as soon as possible. Burns of any kind are vulnerable to infection and keeping them exposed and untreated can cause further health risks or injuries. Additionally, smoke inhalation can do significant damage to your lungs – damage that is hard to check for without an experienced medical professional. First aid should always be the first thing you take care of after a fire, and any parties who are severely injured should be treated at the hospital and not attempt to navigate the fire site.
2: Check Your Utilities
In the volatile post-fire environment, gas leaks or sparks could cause a secondary ignition. Make sure that all of your appliances are secure and turned off and consider contacting your utility company to cut off your home’s supply of gas and power until you know for sure that it’s safe to turn things back on.
3: Make Sure Your Home is Secure
Fires can burn through walls, doors, and roofing, leaving your home exposed to the elements. Before you enter to secure valuables or assess damages, make sure that your home’s damaged exterior isn’t leaving you unprotected.
4: Make Sure Your Roof and Walls are Still Supported
In addition to elemental exposure, the structural damage caused by a fire can leave your home extremely unstable. This means that if you enter your home without evaluating the structure first, you could be injured by falling debris, collapsing walls and floors, or even a total structural collapse. If any part of your home seems unstable or excessively damaged, avoid it at all costs. If you’re unsure, contact your local fire department to evaluate your home. Even if you are cleared to enter your home, it is still best to spend as little time in a compromised home as possible.
5: Watch Out for Smoke
Smoke can linger long after a fire and inhaling it can be dangerous and even deadly. Fores can produce or release an array of airborne toxins, including asbestos, sulfur, and chemicals commonly found in cigarettes. It is vitally important that you not enter your home until it has had time to air out, and wear protective face coverings as an extra precaution.
Even with all safety precautions taken, a post-fire home still needs professional assessment and reconstruction. Call Good Life Fire Restoration at (916) 527-9202 for a free consultation today and let us eliminate all lingering hazards in your home!