Many individuals throughout the world are faced with fire damage. Fire damage always comes around at the wrong time and just when you thought things could not get any worse. If you have never experienced fire damage before then we hope you never have to go through it. However, no matter what you think, you should always prepare yourself to face fire damage. Fire damage is not going to come when you expect it; it is going to come when you least expect it. Fire damage is similar to water damage but in a lot of ways, it is different from water damage.
Fire damage is similar to water damage because they are both known for destroying lives, harming people and ruining items. Fire damage and water damage are different because with water damage, you are usually able to predict this but you will never be able to predict when fire damage is going to happen - unless you are a psychic. When preparing for fire damage, you need to know that it could strike anyone at any time. If you have children living in your house, then now is the time to sit them down and go over fire plans with them.
When going through fire plans with your kids you need to explain to them the evacuation routes in every case scenario. You should not only explain to them the evacuation routes in the house but you should also tell them the dangers of fire and what can happen to people who touch fire. If your children are too young to grasp this idea yet, then the perfect age to start teaching them about fire and fire damage is when they begin to acknowledge the concept of life.
Some fire safety equipment includes fire blankets, smoke detectors, fire safety alarms, fireproof chests and heat detectors. When it comes to fires, fire blankets come in handy when a object or person catches on fire. If you wrap the person who is on fire with the blanket then it will cut the fires oxygen supply which will kill the fire. If a fire breaks loose in your house you should act quick, taking your time will only cause even more fire damage. Make sure everyone is out of the house, including your pets and go to your next door neighbor to call 911. When you call 911, you can expect help to be on the way just in time.
Many houses every year are destroyed by fires and many people each year loose their homes because of fires. If you know someone who has lost their home because of a fire, then you should know that this is a big heart ache. When your house catches on fire you barely have time to get out of the house without your body being damaged by the fire or being damaged by flaming falling boards. Many items are lost in house fires and that equals a lot of money going down the drain for nothing.
A few important and easy steps can be taken to prevent the majority of fires or to contain the damage to a minimum when a fire occurs.
Smoking:
? use large ashtrays to eliminate ashes
? check in and around furniture for dropped butts
? dampen and dispose of butts into large tin cans as quickly as possible
? do not smoke lying down or when drinking alcohol as drowsiness may occur
? keep cigarettes, cigars, matches etc. out of reach of children
? safely dispose of old matches and lighters
Cooking
? never leave cooking unattended ? turn off the burner when leaving or answering the phone
? don't cook while drinking alcohol or on medication that can cause drowsiness
? wear tight fitting clothes when cooking
? always use oven mitts when handing hot pots and pans ? no dish towels please
? never put flammable towels, mitts, etc. on the stove
? never use the oven as storage space
? keep pot handles turned in to prevent bumping or children grabbing them
? heat cooking oil slowly while supervising carefully
? if a pot catches on fire put a lid on it and turn off the stove ? do not attempt to move the pot
? call 911 if the flames do not go out
Children Playing
? keep matches, lighters and smoking materials out of sight and reach of small children
? teach older children the responsible and safe way to use matches or lighters
? teach children not to play with the stove or other electrical heating elements
? never leave lighted candles unattended or in reach of small children
Other Fire Hazard Precautions
? have the fireplace chimney swept by a professional every spring
? use extension cords with circuit breakers ? never overload a circuit breaker
? do not have electrical cords under carpets or hung from hooks
? consider having your electrical panel inspected regularly by a master electrician
Deliberately Set Fires
? have a quality security system in your home
? have good lighting around your home and yard
? when away have a someone monitor your home regularly
? make sure your home always appears lived in
? keep your home, garage and yard clear of rubbish and combustible items
If a fire does occur in your home:
? get down on hands and knees and crawl out ? stay below the smoke
? keep doors and windows closed
? if clothes catch fire STOP, DROP AND ROLL to smother the flames
? use a damp towel or cloth to protect exposed skin and/or cover nose and mouth to facilitate breathing
? get out and stay out - call the fire department from outside
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!!
Some things to keep in mind include:
? plan and regularly practice a fire escape plan including an area to meet family members if you should get separated
? have an emergency survival kit within easy reach if you need to evacuate your home ? in the trunk of your vehicle is also a good place
? always sleep with bedroom doors closed ? this provides some protection against fire
? keep at least one fire extinguisher within easy reach on each level of your home - know how to use it
? keep doors and windows clear of obstructions for safe, easy exit
? install a smoke detector on every level of your home ? one close to bedroom doors
? test your battery and electric smoke alarms each month
? carefully clean your alarms every 6 months
? charge the alarm battery at least once a year ? twice is better
? replace old alarms that no longer work
? if alarms go off regularly for no apparent reason, consider moving them to a different area ? away from direct heat sources
Both Charmaine Pierce & Lorrie Streeter are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Charmaine Pierce has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Sewage and Home Management. Charmaine Pierce is a homeowner advocate on water damage for and. Charmaine Pierce's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.