Always think: Safety First!

4/9/2018 (Permalink)

Help is here!

After a flood in your commercial building there are several things to consider.

First, consult with a qualified water damage remediation expert from SERVPRO of Burlington/ Middlebury before re-entering a flood-damaged building to make sure other, more lethal threats such as live electricity and potential structural collapse have been mitigated.

While damage to a building after a flood is a given, flood contamination risks often come as a surprise to occupants of a building affected by water inundation. There’s more to worry about than just wet carpets, so keep flood contamination risks in mind when contemplating the clean-up of a flooded building.

Sewage Contamination

Work under the assumption that any water you contact may be raw sewage or tainted by raw sewage. The SERVPRO of Burlington/ Middlebury always recommends:

• Wear protective clothing including, boots, gloves, eye protection and some sort of approved face mask to protect against respiratory illness.
• Wash your hands frequently while you’re in the home. Don’t eat or drink without thorough washing first.
• Don’t eat any food contacted by water during the flood. If you need water, use bottled water until the safety of the local drinking water has been verified.
• Clean and bandage any minor cuts or scrapes immediately before continuing any clean-up work.

Chemical Contamination

Industrial chemicals that overflow during a flood, pesticides picked up by flood waters and gasoline and oil are all common contaminants that pose a threat after flood waters recede. Local toxic waste disposal sites inundated by a flood may also release dangerous substances into the water.

• Wear protective clothing, gloves, boots, eyewear and respiratory protection.
• Be alert to any symptoms of exposure to toxic chemicals, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and skin rashes. Discontinue clean-up work and seek medical help immediately.

Remember, help is just a phone call away. Give your local SERVPRO of Burlington/ Middlebury a call @ (802)-497-1101 24 hours a day.