Emergency

DO:

DON'T:

• Limit movement in the home to prevent particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• Keep hands clean.  Soot on hands can cause further damage. 
• Place dry, colorfast towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
• Wipe soot from chrome on kitchen and bathroom faucets, trim, and applicances, then protect them with a light coating of lubricant.
• If the heat is off during winter, pour RV anitfreeze in sinks, toilet bowls, holding tanks, and tubs.
• Wash both sides of leaves on house plants.
• Change HVAC filter, but leave system off.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

• Attempt to wash any walls or painted services without first contacting your SERVPRO® professional. 
• Attempt to shampoo carpet or upholstered furniture without first contacting your SERVPRO® professional.
• Attempt to clean any electrical applicances, TV sets, radios, etc.
• Consume any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored close to fire, heat, or water.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet.  Wiring may be wet or damaged and cause electrical shock.  Air movement may cause secondary damage.
• Send garments to the drycleaners.  Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

DO:

DON'T:

• Shut off the source of water, if possible.
• Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, if panel is safe from electrical shock.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping & blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between floor legs and wet carpet.
• Remove to a safe, dry place any paintings, art projects, computers, documents, etc.
• Use wooden clothes pins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.
• Hang draperies with coated hangers.
• Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

• Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazard may exist.
• Enter affected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment is exposed to water.
• Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
• Leave Oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets or floors.
• Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damaging the vacuum cleaner.
• use TVs or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors - especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, or enter rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

Vadalism Damage       

DO:

DON'T:

• Hose or wash egg damage from building exterior as soon as possible.
• Vacuum glass particles from carpets and upholstery.
• Save containers which reveal the ingredients of spilled inks, cosmetics and paints.

• Attempt to remove ink, paint, or cosmetic stains.
• Operate damaged lamps or appliances.
• Discard furniture wood chips, broken pieces from porcelain, furniture or art objects.

Harmful Waste
(Sewage, Bloodborne Pathogens, etc.)

DO:

DON'T:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Call emergency service personel if the situation is life-threatening.
• Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

• Attempt cleanup of any kind.
• Touch or handle items that might be contaminated with bodily fluids.

Water Damage from Contaminated Water

DO:

DON'T:

• Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

• Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damage or wet areas.
• Turn on the HVAC system if damaged by water which could spread contaminated air.
• Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contaminants.
• Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas.