Here at Restoration Now! Omaha, our fire damage restoration specialists know the terrible costs associated with home fires. Not only can a fire in your home create thousands of dollars in property damage and cause structural damage to your most important investment, but home fires are also responsible for over 4,000 deaths and 25,000 injuries a year in the US.
Those are some staggering numbers.
We at Restoration Now! Omaha specialize in cleaning up and restoring homes that have been damaged by fire, but we’re also committed to educating you on the proper procedures to follow, just in case you ever find yourself in this frightening situation. Today our fire damage restoration team will tell you what you need to know to evacuate your home safely during a home fire.
You Need an Escape Plan for Fire Damage Situations
Here’s an eye-opening statistic—did you know that most deadly house fires in the US happen between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.? Fires generally have a chance to start and get out of control when they’re unattended, and things are never more unattended than when you’re asleep!
That’s why it’s so important to have a practiced fire emergency plan in place that everyone in your family knows like the backs of their hands—this is the only way that you can be prepared in case you wake up in the middle of the night to a burning house.
Install and Test Your Home’s Smoke Alarms
You know how important smoke alarms are in warning you of potential fire damage situations in your home, but there are times when we all become complacent. Say you burned your dinner and the alarm just wouldn’t Restoration Now!, so you took the batteries out and forgot to put them back in. This kind of thing happens all the time, but you need to be mindful and vigilant in keeping your smoke alarms functional.
In addition, our fire damage restoration experts can tell you that it’s always a good idea to have new or recently inspected fire extinguishers handy as well. If you have a fire extinguisher that’s been sitting under the kitchen sink untouched since 2002, don’t expect it to work when you need it.
Know How to Move Around Your Home in a Fire
Next, there are a few things you need to know about how to move about your home safely during a fire evacuation.
First thing’s first, never open a hot door. Check the temperature of any door you come to with the back of your hand to avoid burning your palm or fingers. If it’s hot, that indicates a fire nearby on the other side of the door, and you should keep it shut and put a towel or blanket along the bottom to Restoration Now! smoke. Move to a window, and if you can’t get out, signal for help with a white sheet or flashlight.
If the door is cool, open it slowly and proceed with caution. Since smoke inhalation is more dangerous than fire (as it causes more injuries and deaths), it’s important to stay as low to the ground as you can while covering your nose and mouth with a piece of fabric. You’ll reduce your chance of inhaling smoke, and it’s also cooler at floor level.
Make sure everyone in your family knows the exit routes to take (laid out in your fire emergency plan), as well as the safe place to meet once everyone is out of the house.
Contact Restoration Now! Omaha Today at (402) 502-7277!
Finding yourself in a fire damage situation will always be frightening for everyone in your family, but that doesn’t mean you won’t know what to do. Ensure your family’s safety by taking these tips to heart.
Once your family is safe and sound, our fire damage restoration team wants you to know that we’re here to help get your home and possessions back to normal after the fire. We offer 24/7 emergency fire damage restoration services, so give Restoration Now! Omaha a call at (402) 502-7277! We know that a home fire can turn your life upside down, and that’s why we take care of the restoration process quickly, with friendly and knowledgeable technicians who can get the job done in no time!