4 Ways to be a lifeline to Friends and Family caught in a weather event

Posted on: 01/06/2013

4 ways to be a lifeline to friends and family caught in a weather event

When a weather event strikes close to home, it can be hard to know how to help friends and family members in need. But there are numerous ways you can relieve their stress, just with your everyday household items. Here are four lifelines you can extend to friends and family during and after a weather event.

Electronics chargers

During a flood or power outage, your friends may not have the means to charge their phones and computers. Their first priority after a storm, however, will be to keep in touch with family members and stay up-to-date on public safety announcements.

TIP: Turn your home into a charging station. Invite your friends and neighbors over for tea and offer up your power strips and chargers. If you want to be extra-prepared, pick up a universal charger. Many electronics stores sell them for laptops and cell phones, and it’ll ensure that you will be able to charge a variety of standard devices.

A radio (and extra batteries)

When your friend’s home has been hit by a tornado, they may be left feeling stranded. 2011’s devastating Joplin, MO tornado knocked out phone lines and electricity across the city. Residents relied on the local radio station to stay informed and communicate with one another.

TIP: Offer your friend a battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) to help them keep abreast of the latest weather information so they can stay safe during and after a weather event.

A first aid kit

Did your neighbor suffer a minor cut in a windstorm? Did they get some serious blisters in a wildfire evacuation? In a weather event, victims may not even notice the small injuries they accumulate—but in the often-harsh conditions following, those injuries could worsen. Lend out a first aid kit to those affected by a storm; it could mean the difference between a small treatable injury and a hospital visit a few weeks down the road.

TIP: Include bandages, sanitizers or cleansing towels, antibiotic ointment, sterile dressings, scissors, disposable gloves and pain relievers in your kit.

A list of important phone numbers

During a weather event—especially one that may knock out electricity, like a hurricane—it can be tough to get in touch with local authorities, particularly if you don’t already have a list of their numbers on hand. Type out a list of important local numbers and give it to friends and neighbors during or after a weather event. During an emergency, your list will be a lifeline that connects them to someone who can help.

TIP: Important numbers on your list could include your local fire and police departments, the electric company, the gas company, the nearest hospital, the local radio station and designated shelters for weather events.

At Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country and Northern Onondaga, your family’s safety is our No. 1 priority, and we’re here to be your lifeline after kind any kind of weather event.

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Have my storm prep supplies expired?

Posted on: 10/30/2012

You’ve put together your emergency supplies for your family, but (thankfully) it’s been sitting in the closet for a while. Instead of wondering whether that 5-month-old bag of dried cranberries is safe to eat or not, check out this list of storm preparation supplies that lets you know what to keep and what to toss.

Canned food
Keep it — that is, if you restocked your stash this year. Most canned foods have shelf lives of about two years after the processing date. If the expiration date is within the next year, move the food to your family’s regular pantry and eat up! If you overstocked and have enough canned food to last you for decades, consider donating the excess to a local food bank.

Bottled water
Keep it! The FDA considers unopened bottled water to have an indefinite shelf life. Although most bottled waters have expiration dates, those dates usually reflect taste and/or odor preferences. If your water has “expired” and smells or tastes odd to you, use the water to hydrate your plants (not you!).

Batteries
If the expiration date is still a year away, you can keep them in your kit for next year. If not, re-purpose them! Use the batteries from your storm prep supply for any battery-operated toys or gadgets you’re gifting to the kids for the holidays, and purchase a fresh pack for your prep kit.

Extra medications
Unsure if you should toss expensive prescription meds? Here’s a quick guideline: If they’ve expired or look discolored, have a strong scent, or have turned powdery, it’s best to dispose of them and order more. To safely get rid of unused medicine, follow the directions on the label or take it to a local drug take-back center for proper disposal.

Clothing
If the emergency clothes in your supply kit are still usable, leave them in for next year, or swap them out for others if you’d like to bring them back into regular rotation. If they no longer fit, donate them to a local charity. Be sure to update your children’s clothes often so your young ones aren’t wearing pants that are three sizes too small in an emergency!

Your home inventory list
If you haven’t looked at your home inventory list in a few years, take it out of your kit and get to work. Add items you’ve purchased since you last updated it, including major appliances and electronics. Snap photos of each new item for extra protection during the insurance claim filing process.

At Paul Davis Restoration Emergency Services of North Country and Northern Onondaga, we know that storm season aftermath can be confusing, and we’re here to help.

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Is it Fall Allergies or Black Mold?

Posted on: 10/23/2012

ACHOO! We know what you’re thinking: This is definitely your worst year ever for fall allergies! Or is it?? If your body’s overreaction to ragweed were actually exacerbated by another irritant in your home, would you know the difference? Ask yourself the following questions to determine: Is it just fall allergies? Or do you have black mold in your home?

Are your allergy symptoms accompanied by flu-like symptoms? Maybe it’s mold.

Everyone knows the telltale signs of an allergy-sufferer: those red eyes, sniffles and hacking coughs. But are your fall “allergies” accompanied by headaches, nose bleeds, fatigue, breathing problems, nausea, loss of appetite and/or weight loss? If so, it may be the result of black mold exposure. People with seasonal allergies may be more sensitive to mold. Long-term black mold exposure has been linked to brain damage, cancer and even death. Run, don’t walk, to book an appointment with your doctor — and just as importantly, call in a restoration professional immediately if your additional “allergy symptoms” lead you to suspect there’s black mold growing in your home.

Only having symptoms in certain rooms of your house? Probably mold.

You’re healthy as can be while in your bedroom, kitchen and living room—but as soon as you walk into your bathroom or basement, you start sneezing away. What gives? Stop blaming your dashed-off dusting job—it may be that black mold is lurking in certain rooms of your home, triggering your allergies in those rooms. Black mold needs relatively high humidity to thrive, so damp spaces like bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements are likely culprits for harboring mold growth. If you have inexplicable allergies in certain areas of your home, get on the phone with a restoration professional. They can evaluate your house and eradicate the moldsafely and completely. This isn’t a job you should tackle alone!

Do your symptoms flare, even when you aren’t around your allergens? Could be mold.

You’ve been managing your allergies to ragweed, the most common fall allergen, since you were a kid. You stay inside when the pollen count is highest (10 AM-3 PM), you take prescribed antihistamines, and you keep your windows closed and use the air conditioner throughout the season. But this year, something’s different. Even though you’re following your tried-and-true allergy management plan, you’re still a watery, sneezy, allergy-laden mess! Before you retreat to your bed and hide under the covers until winter’s first snow, consider getting in touch with Paul Davis Emergency Services of Northern Onondaga to search your home for black mold. It may be that you can’t escape from your allergens because they’re also lurking inside your house in the form of toxic mold.

At Paul Davis Emergency Services of Northern Onondaga, your safety is paramount, and we want to help you protect your family from danger. If you’re suffering from more than just fall allergies—call us. We’re the experts on eradicating black mold from your home.

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Flood Prep

Posted on: 08/21/2012

3 Areas Often Overlooked When Preparing a Home for Flooding from Heavy Rain

Imagine this: Heavy rains brought severe flooding in your neighborhood during the night, leaving the basement of your home a soggy mess by morning. What’s worse, the water shorted out your washer and dryer and you’re not sure if your insurance will cover the damage. Ugh—talk about a massive cleanup job! But how do you avoid a situation like this?

At Paul Davis Emergency Services of Northern Onondaga and North Country, we know floods are frightening and damaging disasters for homeowners, and it’s not always easy to remember everything when preparing for such an event. We are here to help by providing information that you can use to be ready before the water starts rising. Below are three things not to forget when preparing your home for flooding.

1. Minimize the damage to large appliances

Before the heavy rains arrive or the snow melt causes rivers to rise, take a bit of time to minimize the potential storm damage to your appliances. If possible, place appliances that typically are found in basements—such as water heaters, washers and dryers, and furnaces—on cement blocks, at least 12 inches above the projected flood levels.

If you live in a flood-prone region, you might want to consider permanently relocating these appliances to a higher floor in your home for extra protection. Don’t have a basement? Raise your refrigerator and stove on cement blocks, too. These little details will make a big difference in the amount of flood damage done to them.

2. Check your sump pump

Do floodwaters frequently infiltrate your basement?You should always check your sump pump, which removes water accumulated in the sump basin (usually found in the basement of your home) on a regular basis to make sure it’s working when you need it. Every few months, run clean water through it to remove any dirt and debris that may be clogging the pump. Regular maintenance will keep it running for years—and help keep your home dry during spring floods.

If the flooding is severe, however, it’s likely your sump pump won’t be able to handle the influx of water. In this case, don’t try to clean up the damage yourself—call in the professionals to get your home back to pristine condition.

3. Buy flood insurance

Are hurricanes a frequent occurrence in your neck of the woods? Does the local river flood almost every year? If so, you may want to consider purchasing flood insurance, which is sold separately from standard home insurance policies.

Remember, it often takes 30 days for new insurance policies to go into effect, so make sure you purchase it now—before floods leave your basement a soggy mess! And if you don’t already have one, write up a complete home inventory (with photographs) now; your insurance company will request it when you file a flood damage claim. Store it someplace waterproof and safe.

It’s inevitable that your home’s contents will get wet if you’re in the path of a flood, but Paul Davis can help you recover and restore even more of your precious items when you’ve prepared for the influx of water!

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

5 Contractor Nightmares and how to avoid them

Posted on: 08/10/2012

Tips for home improvement month: 5 contractor nightmares and how to avoid them

Hiring a contractor to work on your home can be a nerve-wracking experience—how do you know you won’t be cheated? If the contractor comes cheap, will they do a good job, or will your home end up looking worse than before (and be unsafe to boot)? At Paul Davis Emergency Services of Northern Onondaga, we understand the many stresses that a homeowner can experience when opening your doors to a service professional. In honor of home improvement month, we’ve put together a list of contractor nightmares and tips on how to avoid them.

1. They ask for a lot of money—upfront
Of course, any good contractor will want to be paid some money upfront. But if your soon-to-be contractor demands the full cost of the job before any work has begun, it’s a serious red flag. Sadly, many unsuspecting clients will pay the money, only to never hear from the contractor again. The best way not to be cheated? Before signing your contract, make sure they’re asking for a reasonable amount and never pay with cash—if they demand cash, they could be operating “under the table” and likely will refuse to provide you with any paperwork or written guarantee to do the job. If they won’t bend on the upfront cost, find a new contractor and consider yourself lucky for dodging a bullet!

2. Quality isn’t their concern
Is cracked drywall or a leaky roof standard work for your contractor? You could end up hiring a subpar or sloppy contractor if you only speak to them by phone and never check their references or see any of their finished work. Before signing a contract, call the listed references and ask them not only about the work’s quality, but about the contractor’s customer care and problem solving throughout the project. If possible, visit some of the homes they have completed and inspect them. Is the work up to your standards? Finally, do a background check on the contractor—have they ever been sued? How’s their credit history? Are they fully licensed by your state? Doing this legwork before signing on the dotted line will help ensure that you don’t make a costly mistake!

3. They’re unscrupulous with the contract
Picture this: You approach the contractor about when your building permit will be ready. Their response? “That’s not in the contract, but I’ll do it for an additional $1000.” Any scrupulous contractor should handle all building permits—it’s a key part of the job and you shouldn’t have to pay more money to get it taken care of! The lesson? Read your contract carefully, and then read it again. Make sure you know what is and is not the contractor’s responsibility. If you need help, consider hiring a construction attorney who can look over the contract with you and make sure it’s sound—and that you’re protected. Finally, never assume any oral agreement holds; always get everything in writing!

4. They drag the project on…and on…and on…
Was your project supposed to be finished in “two weeks?” If “two weeks” has turned into “in the future” with no explanation, your contractor is unnecessarily dragging out the project—probably in an effort to charge you more. The best way to avoid this money pit? Get the daily start and stop times for work on your project written in your contract (for example, the workers will be there Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3 pm). This will ensure that the contractor has his crew at your house working to complete the project on time. You also can consult with an attorney about adding penalty clauses to the contract in case the start and stop times aren’t observed in the future.

5. Contractor? What contractor?
Perhaps every home remodeler’s nightmare is waking up to find your contractor has disappeared. If your contractor is dodging your calls and has stopped showing up to work, or if things seem strange around the work site—vendors claiming not to have been paid or installations only half-complete, for example—there’s a chance your contractor might have abandoned the job. Preventing a project meltdown requires due diligence on your part: Be sure to check your contractor’s references and previous projects before hiring them, and read the contract carefully before signing. During the project, make sure to touch base with your contractor frequently and check in on your home’s progress regularly. If something seems wrong or strange to you, voice your concerns. Finally, consult an attorney if necessary and file claims with the state licensing board—taking action might be the only way to see your project finished, whether by your contractor or a more scrupulous one!

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Restore Electronic Devices from home hazards

Posted on: 08/10/2012

Cheap ways to restore electronics from home hazards

We’ve all been there—that heart-sinking moment when you knock a newly-filled glass of water onto your laptop, or when you realize in disgust that there’s mold growing in the inner corners of your cell phone case. Think the situation is hopeless? Think again! At Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Onondaga NY, we know accidents happen, so we want to help you restore your damaged electronics successfully—and safely. Take a look at these cheap ways to restore your electronics from common home hazards. And remember: In the event that these remedies don’t succeed, don’t just discard your damaged electronics! Paul Davis is also a tech geek! We’ve safely restored electronic items from homes, schools and businesses after events like flooding and fires.

Did your electronic device go surfing?

· Smartphones. Ack! You’ve dropped your iPhone or Android into the sink while you were doing the dishes. Don’t fret—if your phone was only partially submerged, you may be able to resuscitate it (at least to partially functioning capacity so you can bring it to a professional). Timing is critical for restoring water-damaged electronics; as soon as possible, turn off your phone and remove the battery. If you can’t make it to get fixed right away, submerge your entire phone in a bowl of uncooked white rice overnight. The rice acts as a sponge, sucking all the moisture out of your phone and hopefully restoring it to working order!

· Personal music devices. Trust us—you’re not the first person to drop your iPod into the toilet! The first thing to do when your personal music device gets wet is to turn it off immediately. If you have a device without a removable battery, such as an iPod Touch, or it’s not turning on after 24 hours, you may want to say a few prayers and call a professional. To clean the device, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol or use an alcohol swab.

· Laptop. Uh-oh! Did your ceiling start leaking—right onto your desk and laptop? As soon as you discover water on your computer, immediately turn off your laptop, remove the battery and unplug the A/C adapter and any external devices. The most immediate danger is the laptop shorting out. Once it’s powered down, turn it upside down to prevent water from traveling any deeper into the machine. You’ll want to clean up any liquid you can see with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. If the amount of liquid that came into contact with your computer was small, you should be ready to boot it back up. If it was a more substantial spill and you’re tech savvy enough, you can try disassembling your computer to let it fully dry. Most importantly, do not plug in your computeruntil you’re sure it’s dry and don’t use a blow-dryer on a laptop! Since laptops are such a huge investment and oftentimes you can’t afford to lose your files, we recommend that you seek professional assistance as soon as possible to revive your laptop and minimize potential damage.

Smoke signs

· Smartphones. Is the smell of cigarettes lingering on your cell? One cheap way to restore it is to moisten a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe the entire surface of your phone with it. Be careful not to over-saturate the cotton ball—you don’t want it getting into your phone! The alcohol should neutralize the odors lingering on the outer surface of your phone.

· Laptop. You, the kids and Fido made it out of the house fire just fine; unfortunately, your laptop did not. If your laptop shows external fire damage, restoration is a job for the professionals. Even if you can’t see any fire or smoke damage, it’s not safe for you to turn on or plug in your laptop before having it checked out—the heat and smoke could have destroyed the inner workings of your computer without any outward signs of damage. Have the professionals take a look before you get back to work. And a friendly reminder: Cigarette smoke can damage the fan and inner workings of your laptop. If you’re in the habit of smoking Camels luxuriously over the keyboard while composing the next great American novel, we recommend you get a desk fan to blow the smoke away or better yet, go old-timey and get yourself a typewriter.

Moldy not-so-oldies

· Laptops and smart phones. Although electronic devices aren’t particularly conducive to growing mold, it certainly can happen if an electronic device experiences water damage and isn’t dried out quickly enough. But even if mold already has developed, you still can try to restore your device! With laptops as well as smartphones, make sure the device is powered off and completely unplugged before beginning your restoration efforts.

In a well-ventilated area, take a clean, lint-free cloth and rub at the mold. If the device hasn’t been sitting wet for an extended period of time, a gentle rub should remove the mold. If it doesn’t, pour a bit of rubbing alcohol onto the cloth and dab at the mold spots. If the device is still wet after you remove the mold, you may need to further dry it out using the above methods in order for it to function properly.

For other household items such as clothes, curtains and upholstery, rubbing alcohol unfortunately won’t bring your goods back to safe conditions. You’ll want to bring your moldy treasures to a professional restorer to make sure the mold spores are properly eliminated.

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Surprising facts you may not know about home injuries

Posted on: 07/25/2012

Sometimes dangers can lurk in your house without you even knowing it! Home injuries in the U.S. cause as many as 20 million hospital trips each year. At Paul Davis Emergency Services, we care deeply about the safety of you and your family. Here we’ve put together a list of common home injury facts. Take a look and make our suggested upgrades to your home—your family and house will be all the safer for it!

Look out below!
You may think your toddler is the only one taking tumbles around your home, but be careful: Falls actually are the No. 1 cause of unintentional home injury-related deaths. One of the most dangerous spots in your house? It’s not the kitchen or even the garage that’s chock full of power tools. It’s the slippery tub or shower inside your bathroom — because the hard landing surface causes injuries upon impact.

How to stay safe: Experts recommend installing support bars in the tub and shower to help you enter and exit safely. You also can use non-slip mats on the bottom of the tub and shower to help reduce the amount of slippery surface area you come into contact with.

Outside the bathroom, staircases are another particularly dangerous location where falls at home often occur. Don’t let your kids stash books and toys on the stairs—someone might trip over them. If you don’t have handrails on all of your staircases, now is the time to install them! Finally, if your stairs are wood, start taking off any lightweight slippers, UGG-type boots or socks before going up and down. These simple safety measures could help prevent a world of hurt!

Be wary of what you ingest
Now that your kids are old enough to know the difference between mouthwash and toilet bowl cleaner, you might think you don’t have to worry about accidental poisonings in your home. Unfortunately, accidental poisoning is not only a leading cause of death for young people but also for older adults who may mix up or accidentally overdose on certain medications. To help prevent a poisoning in your home, lock up all cleaning supplies and chemicals (such as laundry detergents, pool cleaners and pesticides). Do the same in the bathroom with medications, mouthwash, and hair products.

How to stay safe: In the kitchen, keep food extracts, such as vanilla, out of reach of children and teens. Finally, store all products carefully—don’t keep the cleaning supplies in the same cabinet as food products, for example. And always store chemicals in their original containers to avoid a dangerous leak or accidental ingestion!

To keep yourself safe from an accidental drug overdose, always read the labels of every medication you take. Make sure to follow all directions carefully, and ask your pharmacist before taking more than one medication at a time. If you are ill or sleepy, double check the dose you are taking with another member of your household before taking the pills.

Call the Poison Control hotline (800-222-1222) for definitive answers about taking certain combinations of medications, or what to do if a member of your family has swallowed poison – it just might save a life!

Cease fire
It’s a sad truth: Accidental firearm shooting rates remain much higher in children than adults, and nearly all childhood accidental firearm shootings occur in or around the home. Yet an estimated 3.3 million children live in a house where guns are never or rarely locked and often are kept loaded.

How to stay safe: If you own a gun, hide it from your kids and always keep it unloaded. Store it in a locked container well out of reach of your children. These simple steps will help prevent a heartbreaking accident or injury.

No burns, baby
Burns are a common household injury, but one surprisingly common type of household burn comes from an unexpected source: Water. Every year, 3000 children require hospitalization for burns caused by water that is too hot (children tend to burn faster than adults because they have thinner skin). Water heaters typically leave the factory pre-set to a temperature of 140 to 150 degrees—a child can receive a third degree burn in just two seconds in 150 degree water. And adults aren’t immune, either: 130 degree water can scald your skin in just 30 seconds.

How to stay safe: To prevent dangerous burns from hot water, check your water heater temperature: It should be between 120 and 125 degrees. Never place a child directly into water without first feeling the temperature—if it feels too hot to you, it most likely will burn your child. Put protective knobs on faucets so children cannot turn on the water if unsupervised. Finally, always bathe children with their backs to the knobs so they can’t accidentally turn the hot water on themselves.

We proudly service the communites of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Tips for staying safe with water

Posted on: 06/29/2012

Tips for staying safe with water

Although water brings to mind all the fun of summer for your family—running through sprinklers, splashing in the pool and jumping in the lake—it also can be dangerous, even in your own home. At Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country, we know how hazardous even one inch of water can be, and our goal is to make sure needless tragedies don’t happen to you. Take a look at our safety tips to help you avoid potential water-related injuries in the home—and have a happy, safe summer!

Bath time basics

It’s one of life’s sad truths: Drowning can happen in the blink of an eye and in less than an inch of water. If you have children or babies in the home, it’s particularly important to heed these words: Never leave a bucket or any other container filled with water unattended. Always keep your bathroom doors closed and consider installing a toilet-lid lock if you have a curious toddler.

Finally, never leave a baby unattended in the tub—even if it’s just for a minute, and even if he or she is in a bathtub seat. If the phone rings or you need to answer the door, wrap your baby in a towel and bring him or her with you. It may be an extra step, it may make your shirt wet, but it will keep your child safe and prevent potentially fatal accidents.

Fish out of pool water

Got a bright, sparkling pool out back? You may be the envy of the neighborhood, but remember that extra caution is needed if you have children or non-swimmers in the house. Consider installing a high fence (at least 4 feet) around the pool, with a gate that’s out of a child’s reach. Make sure there’s always supervision for any pool-related activity, and keep horseplay at a minimum to avoid dangerous situations.

Finally, always remove any pool toys from the water after your kids are done playing—they may try to fish out the toys later while unsupervised. As for wading pools, take safety one step further: Empty them out at the end of every cooling-off session so kids aren’t tempted to jump back in.

Unfashionable high waters

It can happen in any home—you head down to the basement to grab a hammer and find yourself standing in ankle-deep water. Looks like you’ve got a flood on your hands! Any standing water is a breeding ground for microorganisms and bacteria; this is particularly true for water that may have come into contact with sewage or toxins, but even rainwater can carry bacteria and viruses.

Your entire family—particularly the most vulnerable members, such as children and the elderly—should avoid direct contact with any floodwaters in your home. If you must come into contact with the water, wear protective clothing, gloves and a mask to minimize your risk of contracting a virus.

After a flood, do not drink your tap water until it’s been tested, and don’t eat any food (even boxed or canned!) that has come into contact with floodwaters. Finally, get a professional to survey the damage and restore your home—this is too big (and dangerous!) of a job for you to undertake on your own!

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

Mold and allergy tips for homeowners

Posted on: 06/22/2012

Breathing. It’s something you rarely think about, yet do thousands of times per day. We all know how important it is to breathe clean air, and most of us associate air toxins—like acid rain and smog—with the world outside our homes. But the air you and your children breathe in your own house might be more dangerous than you think! We at Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Onondaga care about your family’s well being. For Home Safety Month, we’ve put together a list of tips to help you keep the air in your house clean so you can breathe easy!

There’s a fungus among us!

You’ve probably heard about the dangers of black mold, or toxic spores that cause asthma and respiratory problems that can jeopardize even the healthiest individual’s constitution. But even common household molds can cause serious allergies, not to mention destroy the structure of the materials they infest (goodbye sturdy shower curtain!).

Here are the scary-sounding names of the most common molds:

· Alternaria

· Aspergillus

· Cladosporium

· Penicillium

What to know: Mold becomes a problem in parts of the U.S. where humidity levels are above 55-60 percent for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, this describes the majority of the country during the course of a year! Every home—whether you live in the humid Southeast or the dry deserts of the Southwest—is at risk for mold infestation in bathrooms, basements, poorly-ventilated rooms and anywhere where there’s a leak.

So how can you prevent this fungus from making you and family members sick? Keep the humidity low in your home. Dehumidifiers that keep humidity below 40 percent help to limit condensation and thus make it harder for mold to form. Mildewcides are a good preventative measure, as is using ultraviolet lighting (mold is particularly susceptible to high levels of UV rays). Unfortunately, if you already have a well-established mold problem, particularly if you think it might be dangerous black mold, you’ll need to call in the professionals to eradicate it and help make your air safe to breathe again.

What to do with all the “achoos”!

Has your youngest been sneezing for weeks on end? There may be something inside your home that’s triggering an allergic reaction. The most common household allergens include:

· Dust. Dust mites are the most common cause of chronic sneezing. Vacuums, allergen-free bedding and air purifiers all can reduce the number of dust mites in your home, potentially lessening the severity of allergies.

· Pets. Sure, you may have had Fluffy for years with nary a sneeze, but allergies can take two years of exposure to develop. Cats are the pets that most frequently trigger allergies, and not only do fur and dander cause the sniffles, so too do cat mucus and saliva. Air purifiers and frequent vacuuming can help alleviate your symptoms if you can’t bear to find a new home for Fluffy or Fido!

· Smoke. Cigarette smoke can irritate the respiratory system even with extremely limited exposure. If someone in your family develops a mysterious allergy, limit smoking to the outdoors and see if it reduces their symptoms.

· Chemicals. That product you use to clean the bathroom may be making you sneeze! Formaldehyde—found in air fresheners, toilet cleaners, paint, adhesives, liquid cleaners and carpet backing—is known to be particularly irritating to the throat and respiratory system (and is extremely dangerous at high levels of exposure). If you can identify a particular product that irritates you, stop using it; if not, an air purifier or a specialty chemical purifier can help reduce your symptoms.

· Pollen. Yep, the pesky particles that make your eyes water outside can follow you into your home, too! Make sure your windows and doors all are airtight, and use an air purifier to ensure you’re not breathing in pollen inside your home as well as outside it!

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

5 Tips for Fire Safety in Your Home

Posted on: 05/31/2012

5 Tips for Fire Safety in Your Home

The importance of fire safety cannot be underscored. At a recent press conference hailing his heroics in saving a neighbor from her burning home, Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker was pictured holding a DVD set called “Fire Is…”. These now famous DVDs were conceived by Dr. Frank Field, a retired reporter and meteorologist, to help combat fire ignorance. He designed the video series for children age 5-7 in the hopes of preventing more needless tragedies. You can see a compilation of the videos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMs6RgsGBnE

At Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country NY, there’s nothing more important to us than your family’s safety. We’ve put together a list of fire safety tips drawn from Dr. Field’s videos that you can use in your home right now. Although simple, these tips may surprise you and are certainly extremely important—they could mean the difference between a tragedy and a close call.

Check your smoke alarms…and keep checking them!

Time is of the essence in a fire, and the quickest (and noisiest) indicator there’s a fire in your home is your smoke detector. Your smoke alarm just might save your life, so it’s important you change the batteries regularly. Experts recommend replacing all your smoke alarms’ batteries twice a year. An easy way to remember is to swap out the batteries when you change your clocks forward and backward every March and November. And do a monthly test of your alarms to make sure they’re working properly—it takes under five minutes and will help keep your family and home safe!

Keep potential dangers out of reach

As the video notes, fire is fascinating to young children. But when a child gets his or her hands on a match, tragedy can strike in the blink of an eye. If you have children, store all of your matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of curious eyes. Even better? Consider purchasing a lockbox and placing all potential fire starters in it. Lock it up and place it on a high shelf—and then have a chat with your children about the dangers of playing with fire!

Test your escape routes

When smoke detectors sound, you and your family need to be prepared to escape as quickly as possible. Test escape routes from every room in your home. Do your windows and doors open easily? Are they big enough for everyone to fit through? Do you have fire escape ladders if you need to exit from the second or third floor? Map out a potential escape route for every room and make sure your entire family knows how to safely exit and where to go in case of an emergency.

Be prepared

A house fire isn’t like the fires we see in movies—as the video explains, real house fires are dark and smoky, not bright. Keep a flashlight and small bell in every bedroom in your home. If there’s a fire, you’ll be able to use the flashlights to see when escaping. Teach young children not to hide from the fire, but to escape with the help of the flashlight. The bells will help your family find one another if the smoke makes it difficult to speak or if anyone is injured; it also can help firefighters locate a trapped member of your family.

Be smart

Many house fires are preventable, so make sure you’re making smart decisions to protect your family! If you’re using a space heater, keep it at least three feet away from anything flammable, and never leave it on overnight or when you’re out of the house. If you or someone in your home is a smoker, take extreme precautions; never smoke in bed and always make sure every cigarette is fully extinguished before throwing it away. Also, the chef in your family shouldn’t wear shirts with baggy or billowing sleeves, and he or she should never pour water on a grease fire—always smother the fire with a pan lid, then turn off the burner. Finally, be wary of any appliance that starts smoking or smells odd. Stop using it, unplug it immediately and take it to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. These small precautions could mean the difference between life and death!

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

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Posted on: 04/23/2012

Check out the 10 most obvious places to look for mold in you home.

We proudly service the communities of: Oswego and Onondaga counties including Fulton, Pulaski, Liverpool, Clay, Cicero, Baldwinsville and most of CNY. Also, Oneida, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

15 Tips for Protecting Your Pets In a Weather-Related Disaster

Posted on: 03/11/2012

Who can forget the images of stranded dogs and cats on the television in the weeks after Hurricane Katrina? At Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country NY, our first priority is the safety and well being of your family — which of course, includes your pets. We have a soft spot for your furry loved ones and we know from experience that all it takes is a little preparation to avoid the heartbreak of seeing them injured in a storm. When a severe storm approaches Central NY, be sure you’ve planned ahead with these tips from Paul Davis Emergency Services to protect your four-legged companions from getting lost or injured. We suggest you keep this basic checklist for Socks and Buster on the fridge next to all your other emergency contacts.

1. Develop a written plan of action that includes your pet…NOW before any weather-disaster strikes. Play the “what if” game so that you can prepare for a variety of scenarios. Have a back-up plan in case things don’t work out with “plan A”. You should develop your plan based on the most likely weather event in our area.

2. When it is safe to do so, leave early with your pet whenever a disaster emergency is declared. Generally, the longer you wait to move, the more dangerous the situation will become. Observe prior warnings and recommendations so that you are better prepared when an evacuation is ordered.

3. Include outdoor pets in your disaster preparedness plan. It’s too easy to forget these friends or assume that they can fend for themselves because they are outside. The truth is that they are likely to go missing even if they are not injured or killed.

4. Most emergency public shelters and evacuation centers don’t accept pets. Find out in advance which locations in Central New York are pet-friendly in case you need to leave your home to avoid a weather-related disaster. Remember that current vaccinations are an absolute must if you expect your pets to be welcome in any shelter. Consider evacuating to a pet-friendly motel if there are no shelters that accept pets. The following websites and search tools will help you locate motels, restaurants, places and services that allow pets under various circumstances: Go Pet Friendly, TravelPets, PetsWelcome, PetTravel, DogFriendly.

5. Consider pet insurance as part of any preparedness plan. Although ConsumerReports.org states that there is generally little value over the long run for the cost of premiums, the benefits of such a policy may depend on your location and whether you pet has special medical needs. It may be best to set up a self-insurance savings account specifically for the purpose of handling emergency situations for your pet. You can use this fund to pay for the cost of emergency supplies, veterinary care, evacuation, etc.

6. If you have sufficient notice of an incoming storm, talk to local boarding kennels and pet shelters about the preparedness of their facilities. Your pet may be able to safely ride out the storm in a kennel. This approach might be a good idea if you have small children who will need your undivided attention during an emergency. Ask about the capacity of the kennel – and whether they usually get overcrowded when there are weather-related disaster warnings.

7. If you must leave home, don’t leave your pets. You might be gone longer than you think, putting your pet at risk for dehydration and starvation. Never leave your pet alone in an evacuation area unless you absolutely have no other choice. Your pet will likely die if left inside a mobile home alone. Even in a safer structure, the chances of pet survival are slim, especially in heat or frigid temperatures. If they do manage to survive, this may be because they found a way to escape the house. They may not be there when you get back. If they are, they may have caused significant damage to your property while trying to get out.

8. Identification is critical for making sure your pet can be returned to you as soon as possible. Use a combination of contact tags (external collar tags and microchip) to make it easier locate a pet that is separated from you during a weather-related disaster. This is especially critical in large-scale disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes when local shelters and animal control centers may be dealing with a high volume of missing pets at one time.

9. Keep photos of your pet in a dry location in case you need to make lost posters. If you really want to be prepared, make up some “missing pet” posters before the severe weather hits, just in case you need them. Be sure to include a way to contact you that will still be accessible even if the power lines are down.

10. The safest area of your home for humans is usually also the safest area for pets. Make your furry friends comfortable with their favorite bedding and toys. Bring in a crate or carrier in case your pet becomes agitated and tries to get out of the room. This is especially important with cats since they can slip out very easily and run away. Keep all exit routes shut.

11. Put together an emergency travel kit for your pet that includes a carrier, leash or harness, food, water, towels, poop cleanup supplies, medications, etc. Include enough supplies to last several days at a minimum. Some organizations suggest a week minimum. This should give you enough time to find other resources. Make sure there are some First Aid supplies that can be used for your pet as well (gauze, bandages, disinfectant).

12. If you have reason to believe you might be out of the house when a weather-related disaster strikes, post prominent signs in the windows letting neighbors and rescue workers know there are pets inside. Include the names and descriptions of each pet along with any special handling instructions (such as ways to tempt them into the open with a favorite treat).

13. Exchange pet information with neighbors so they can help evacuate pets when you are not available to do so. Make sure anyone who has a key to your home is familiar and comfortable with all your pets. These friendly neighbors should know the animal’s habits and their special place where they are likely to feel safest. Animals are often frightened by high winds, thunder and heavy rain fall associated with weather-related disasters and will hide away.

14. Keep your pets close to you even after the severe weather is over. The debris left behind, contaminated water and stray animals running free in your neighborhood can continue to pose a threat to your pet’s life and health. Flooding creates lots of opportunities for pets to drink or drown in unsafe water. Wildfires can leave behind toxic residues including chemical-laden soot and ash from building materials. There may also still be smoldering remains that can burn your pet. Mudslides can create entrapment hazards even after most of the ground has stopped shifting. Broken glass is usually left behind by hurricanes, windstorms and tornadoes.

15. If your pet does get lost and you can’t find it in your neighborhood, call the local animal control office. They should have information on where lost pets are being housed waiting for owners to come pick them up.

Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country, and Northern Onondaga County, NYYour Emergency. Our Response.

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Paul Davis Emergency Services of North Country,
and Northern Onondaga County, NY
Your Emergency. Our Response.