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7 Things to keep around for safety.
3/25/2021 (Permalink)
Here at SERVPRO of West Forsyth we deal with some work spaces that can be hazardous. After a fire or flood things are not as neatly organized as it is in your day to day living. Our manager, James Otterberg stresses safety first in all things SERVPRO related. Here are 7 things that you probably could use around your home or office that will help prepare you in the event of an emergency.
Fire extinguisher – available at Fire Ade (here locally in Winston Salem) this asset to your home could save you more money in insurance discounts. But be sure to have them serviced annually.
Carbon Monoxide detector – you may think, I don’t have gas so I don’t need this. But, do you have a garage? Do you have a self-cleaning oven? Do you have a fireplace? These are additional sources of carbon monoxide. You should place one on each level of the home or business.
Training – What? This is an intangible you can’t keep this around the office. Ah, but you can, the Red Cross has online and local classes that you can take. They do have a cost to them but what is the safety of your family, coworkers or employees worth? As an addition to this a safety magnet reminding you of what you learned and emergency phone numbers is a good reminder.
Emergency Radio – We are so dependent on our smart phones for our day to day lives and emergency notifications. But if the power is out for a longer than expected time, do you have a way to get information when your phone loses battery power? This product has a radio and can charge your phone.
App alerts – Speaking of dependency on our smart phones, when your away from home does your house tell you there is a problem? CPI Security has smart features that tell you when a door has been left open or smoke has been detected. Coupled with a smart HVAC controller you can tell when power is out at your home or office, or any number of other situations that you should be aware of.
Evacuation plan and needed items. Is your home or office more than one level? If you had to get out the window could you do it without assistance? Having an escape ladder stored near the window is a good idea. Teaching the whole family to be aware of the plan and tools to use are necessary to be able to account or everyone quickly.
Emergency kit – This is not doomsday prepper type kit. This is a storm event or flood has made it necessary for me to survive on my own for a little while. Being prepared for this event is key. READY.gov has a great starting point to develop a first aid and emergency kit that every home and business should keep available. Remember to keep in mind your unique situation and include those items you would need. i.e. meds, pet supplies, any disability assist items.