Life is unpredictable at best. From snow and ice storms in the winter and hurricanes and heat waves in the summer, not to mention the dangers housed inside of your home, you have a lot of emergencies to prepare for. To help out, we’ve compiled a list of safety tips to prevent a potential emergency from turning into a disaster.

Install Fire/Smoke Alarms – Fire and smoke alarms help warn you that there may be a fire in your home. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) about two thirds of deaths related to home fires occurred in homes without smoke alarms or without working smoke alarms. They estimate that having working smoke alarms cuts your risk of dying in a home fire in half. Test the alarms regularly and change the batteries at least once a year.

Get a Backup Generator – Winter storms, wildfires or freak accidents can result in loss of power to your home. In the winter, this could mean the inability to heat your home and stay warm. It could also result in having hundreds of dollars in spoiled food when your refrigerator and freezer are off. A standby generator will automatically turn on when the power goes off in your home, keeping you safe and saving you money.

Gather a Winter Emergency Kit – Preparing for an unknown emergency can be daunting. During the unpredictable winter weather, it is especially important to have an emergency kit at your disposal. Some of the items the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests putting in your winter emergency kit include:

• Blankets
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• Food and drinking water
• Any necessary medicines
• Shovel
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

Purchase Carbon Monoxide Alarms – If any appliance in your home uses gas or propane, a carbon monoxide alarm is essential. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly in high doses. It is a natural result of incomplete combustion and is therefore present wherever there is a gas, propane or wood-burning appliance.

Install Surge Protection – Power surges are not uncommon. They are also one of the leading causes of premature heating and cooling system failure. An easy and inexpensive way to ensure your HVAC system is protected is by having a surge protector installed. It will protect your air conditioner and heater from harmful and damaging power surges that can otherwise leave it inoperable.

Prepare First Aid Kits – It is important for every home to have a first aid kit they can easily get to. You never know when you may need it. FEMA and the American Red Cross recommend creating a first aid kit for your home as well as one for each of your vehicles. Some of the recommended contents include:

• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze pads
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needle
• Moist Towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Cleansing agent (or soap)
• Latex gloves
• Pain relievers

Use these tips to protect your home and your family and prevent an emergency from turning into a disaster.

HVAC Warehouse serves Virginia’s heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing needs.

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