Fire Damage Cleanup And Restoration In Prairieville

Fire damage is devastating to your home and possessions. But even more than that, fire damage can be devastating to your health – even after the flames have been put out. While your first instinct may be to attempt to clean up or remove left-over soot, smoke, and debris, you need to keep in mind the potential health risks that are associated with fire damage in your home.

All the debris, smoke, and soot left behind from a fire contain toxins that are the result of materials that do not burn clean. Common household materials that do not burn clean include: PVC, wood, carbon materials, building materials, plastics, and fabrics. Here are just some of the hazards that can threaten your health when dealing with fire damage repair:

• Respiratory Issues: Did you know that smoke and soot left behind from a fire can be toxic – especially upon inhalation? Just because the flames are extinguished, it does not mean that the dangers are gone. Smoke and soot are the result of objects not burning clean or producing harmful chemicals and byproducts upon combustion. That means these chemicals and toxins are all around following a fire, even in the very air we breathe. Breathing in soot and smoke after a fire can cause shortness of breath, coughing, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, and even pneumonia. When it comes to your respiratory health, you cannot be too safe. Do not expose yourself to these dangers, and instead call in professionals to handle fire damage restoration cleanup.
• Irritation or Injury to Skin: Not only is soot toxic, but it can also carry carcinogens that are found in cigarette smoke. The carcinogenic properties of soot can be very dangerous to your skin. Skin irritation and dryness are common symptoms of soot exposure, but soot and ash can hold onto heat for a surprisingly long amount of time after the fire has been extinguished so exposure can even result in third-degree burns that require emergency medical care. Any fabrics, from clothes to upholstery on furniture, that have not been treated or cleaned can hold onto soot and cause skin redness, itching, and rashes. Avoid any and all contact with soot or ash following a fire, and let the professionals take care of all fire damage restoration and clean-up.
• Damage to Eyes: Smoke and soot are very irritating to the eyes, and can cause instant dryness and redness. In worst-case scenarios, rubbing irritated eyes can cause scratches in the cornea. This can cause irreversible damage, so if there is any possibility that soot is in your eyes, seek medical attention from an eye doctor right away. Always wear protective eye gear if you have to enter a fire-damaged area, but the best practice is to leave fire damage restoration and cleanup to the professionals.
• Long-Term Risks: On top of all of these symptoms, exposure to toxins and carcinogens in smoke, soot, and ash can have long-lasting effects on your health. Long-term risks like cancer, heart attacks, and even strokes have been linked to exposure to smoke, soot, and ash after fire damage. There is just too much at stake, too much at risk, to attempt any type of fire damage restoration on your own. Instead, keep yourself safe and provide the best possible results for your home any belongings in Prairieville by calling Crossroads Property Rescue when you need fire damage restoration.