Hundreds of thousands of American homes and businesses deal with fires every year. As much as you don’t think it will be you, it's always best to have a plan in place. After the fire is put out by firefighters and you’re assessing the damage, you might be thinking of cleaning up the mess yourself and restoring your home or room to its former glory. But before you get in there and start scrubbing, here are some things you might want to know.

Harmful Smoke and Chemicals

When you first step into a Georgetown, Tx water and fire-damaged home to clean up, there may still be some lingering smoke. This can cause some serious issues, such as irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, as well as an odor that can sometimes cause nausea. These are all signs from your body telling you to stay far away from the smoke. On top of that, The modern home is filled with all sorts of chemical compounds that can become dangerous when they combust or combine with other chemicals. In the event of a fire, the smoke can contain many of these dangerous chemicals and should under no circumstances be inhaled.

Even Worse For Weakened Immune System

Infants, children, and the elderly are particularly at risk of health issues as a result of smoke and soot. No children, seniors, or anyone with a weakened immune system should get near a room or building that has just had a fire, even after the fire has been put out.

Carbon Monoxide and Long Term Effects

Inhaling any smoke, which contains carbon monoxide, can damage your body and cause irritation. This can cause reduced alertness, headaches, aggravate existing heart conditions and cause a variety of other health concerns. Long term exposure to smoke has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular diseases. Some studies have shown that firefighters, for example, are more likely to develop long-lasting respiratory issues and cardiovascular disease.

The Best Way

Because of all of the reasons listed above, and many more, it is highly unsafe to try cleaning and restoring a fire damaged home yourself. To keep you and your loved ones safe, hand the job over to the professionals. The Steam Team experts will be able to safely restore your home to its former glory. Don’t hesitate to call.