William Mattar's Fire Prevention Program
Representing New York Car crash injuries
Taking preventative measures and knowing what to do in the event of a fire are important for the safety of your family. Our firm created the William Mattar Fire Prevention Program to encourage people to take proper fire safety precautions. In the month of October 2009, our firm, along with our friends at Ed Young's True Value Hardware, gave away 261 free smoke detectors to families in Western New York.
"Safety is important in a car as well as in your house. Having proper smoke detectors and checking them on a regular basis can save your life." —William K. Mattar, Attorney at Law
Fire Safety Checklist:
Use this helpful checklist to make sure you are taking the necessary precautions to ensure your family’s safety. Following these basic guidelines might save the life of someone you love!
- Families should plan and practice two escape routes from each room of their home.
- Regularly inspect the home for fire hazards.
- If there are adults in the home who smoke, they should use heavy safety ashtrays and discard ashes and butts in metal, sealed containers.
- If there is a fireplace in the home, the entire opening should be covered by a heavy safety screen. The chimney should be professionally inspected and cleaned annually.
- Children should cook only under the supervision of an adult.
- Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old and damaged cords immediately.
- Never overload an extension cord or wall sockets.
- Matches and lighters should never be left in an area where children can access them.
- No one should stand too close to a fireplace or wood stove or other types of heaters, where clothes could easily catch fire.
- Make sure all appliances (i.e. stove, lights, curling irons, etc.) have been shut off or unplugged before leaving the house, as per manufacturer’s instructions.
- Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas.
- Smoke alarms should be tested regularly to ensure that they are working properly.
- Smoke alarms should be kept clean of dust by regularly vacuuming over and around them.
- Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. And replace the entire unit after ten years of service, or as the manufacturer recommends.
- Always follow the specific manufacturer’s installation and maintenance requirements for the smoke alarms you are using.
Disclaimer: William K. Mattar, P.C. is providing this list as a suggestion of practical fire safety tips. This list is not all inclusive. It is recommended that you explore additional sources of information regarding fire safety and take all of the reasonable steps to prevent fires and be safe. Following these recommendations does not guarantee the prevention of fire.
Fire Evacuation Plan:
In the event of a fire, every second counts. It may only takes minutes for a house to become filled with smoke and engulfed in flames. Preparing an escape plan can minimize panic and provide a safe exit for your entire family.
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Plan two ways out of each room. The primary exit may be blocked, so it is imperative to have a secondary exit planned.
Immediately leave your home when a fire occurs. Do not try to save any personal property.
Stay low to the ground, under the smoke, and keep your mouth covered. Smoke contains toxic gases which can disorient you.
Never open doors that are hot to the touch. If heat and smoke come in when you open a door, immediately shut it and use your alternate exit.
Practice the escape plan every month. This includes practicing feeling your way out of the house with your eyes closed. When a room is filled with smoke, you are not able to see anything.
Designate a meeting place away from your home. Make sure it is specific so there is no confusion.
Once you’re out, stay out! Never go back into a burning building.
Disclaimer: William Mattar Law Offices is providing these tips for informational use only. This is just one example of an evacuation plan and it is recommended that you further explore additional plans to find one that is most suitable for your situation. The following of a fire evacuation plan is no guarantee that you or others will be safe or escape a fire without injury.
What to Do After a Fire:
Use this helpful checklist to make sure you are taking the necessary precautions to ensure your family’s safety. Following these basic guidelines might save the life of someone you love!
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Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the Red Cross, if you need temporary housing, food and medicines.
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If you are insured, contact your insurance company for detailed instructions on protecting the property, conducting inventory and contacting fire damage restoration companies. The insurance company will likely require timely written notice of the loss.
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Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire. You may wish to hire a private inspector to advise you that it is safe to enter the dwelling.
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The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
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Conduct an inventory of damaged property and items. Do not throw away any damaged goods until after an inventory is made. You may want to take photographs of all damaged or destroyed items.
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Try to locate valuable documents and records.
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If you leave your home, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied.
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Begin saving receipts for any money you spend related to fire loss. The receipts may be needed later by the insurance company and for verifying losses claimed.
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Notify your mortgage company of the fire.
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Check with an accountant or the Internal Revenue Service about special benefits for people recovering from fire loss.
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You may wish to retain an attorney or a company, such as National Fire Adjustment Co. (NFA), to assist you in processing your claim with the insurance company or answer questions you may have.
Disclaimer: William Mattar Law Offices is providing this list of suggestions for informational use only. These tips may not be all inclusive and it is recommended that you further research what to do should you be the victim of a fire. There are time limits and certain requirements to file claims. You may wish to contact a professional for assistance.
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If you’ve been injured in New York state, contact the Western New York auto accident lawyers at William Mattar Law Firm, who focus on car injury accidents (auto injury). This includes car collisions that involve crashes or accidents with another car, bus, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, or motorcycle. The attorneys at the William Mattar Law Firm have advocated for hurt and injured clients across New York state. Our attorneys are ready to help those in a car crash or injury accident. We service the Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Binghamton, Corning, Elmira, Lockport, Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh, Schenectady, Troy, Utica, and surrounding areas. Our lawyers who focus on car accident injury cases are available now. Fill out a Free Online Consultation Form or better yet, call us at 444-4444 or 1-800-317-2424 for a free accident consultation today! Call us anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are on call right now. We have multiple locations in New York state to better serve you. Do not worry where you are located. After a serious accident or collision, we may be able to come to your home or hospital. Call us right now, we are ready to help. After an accident, common questions for our lawyers (attorneys) concern injuries, car accident insurance coverage, No-Fault, accident reports, MV-104 Forms, collision coverage, disability, lost wages, and medical bills.
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