Recent Community Posts

Labor Day Safety Tips

9/2/2016 (Permalink)

Many people view Labor Day as the end of summer and their last chance to travel, hit the beach and fire up the grill. SERVPRO of Burbank, Crescenta Valley/East Glendale, Chatsworth/Stevenson Ranch, offers safety tips to help everyone have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

 

People should follow these safety tips:

 

Tips for Safe Travel

  • Carry an emergency supply kit in your trunk.
  • Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.
  • Buckle up and observe speed limits.
  • Don’t drink and drive.

 

Tips for Safe Swimming

  • Check weather and water conditions beforehand and throughout the day.
  • Always swim with a buddy in a designated swimming area supervised by a lifeguard.
  • Provide constant supervision to children in or near the water and always stay within arm’s reach of young children and inexperienced swimmers while they are in the water.
  • Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

 

Tips for Safe Grilling

  • Keep the grill away from the house, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
  • Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Keep children and pets away from the grill.
  • Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.

 

For more information on emergency preparedness, go to redcross.org. Additional water safety tips are located at redcross.org/watersafety.

Is Your Child Ready for Back to School?

8/12/2016 (Permalink)

Hey SERVPRO Chatsworth readers!

School’s right around the corner and for some of us, that means life is [once again] starting to ramp up. Next month happens to be Emergency Preparedness Month and we will be coming out with some great content to help our readers stay ahead of the game to be prepared for the unexpected. In the meantime though, our friends over at FEMA  just came out with a great article on helping both kids and parents stay prepared as well. We thought you’d enjoy it, so feel free to keep reading –   

“Fun Preparedness Resources for Kids

Your child may be away from you when disaster strikes, so it’s important teach to him or her how to stay safe during emergencies. To make disaster preparedness fun for youth, Save the Children and Scholastic created the following resources for parents and teachers to share with kids.

Keep the Herd Safe is a fun-filled activities page for children in grades 1-3 to encourage disaster planning and to teach them how to stay connected in the event of an emergency! Parents and teachers can also help children complete In Case of Emergency (ICE) Cards featuring characters from the new animated film “Ice Age: Collision Course.”

Get Ready, Get Safe! Do your children know how to do the Prep Step? Save the Children’s Prep Step video combines valuable safety tips with fun dance moves to get kids excited about preparedness. You can also download the Prep Step song for children to listen to while on the go. Download today and get moving!

 Making preparedness fun and easy for kids is one of the best ways to get them involved in their own safety. 

Firewise Virtual Workshop Series

The National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise Communities program is hosting a wildfire workshop series to connect wildfire stakeholders with subject matter experts. The series provides free learning opportunities for wildfire stakeholders by connecting them with leading researchers and practitioners in a live, interactive format. Visit the Firewise Communities website to learn more about the series and to register for their upcoming workshops.

Avoiding Disaster Fraud

After a disaster, community-based organizations and agencies often band together to try to meet the needs of affected individuals and communities. Unfortunately, this often brings criminals who prey on the needs of disaster survivors by offering fraudulent services.

Learn how to protect yourself and your finances from additional loss. FEMA offers reminders to help you avoid disaster fraud, including:

  • There is never a fee to apply for FEMA disaster assistance or to receive it;
  • Get three written estimates for repair work. Then check credentials and contact your local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to learn about any complaints against the contractor or business;
  • Before work begins, make sure you get a written contract detailing all the work to be performed, the costs, a projected completion date, and how to negotiate changes and settle disputes; and
  • Pay only by check or a credit card. A reasonable down payment may be required to buy materials for some projects, but don't pay anything without a signed contract.  

    • Be sure to check out the full list of disaster fraud tips and stay vigilant when disaster strikes! To register for FEMA disaster assistance, call 800-621-3362(TTY: 800-462-7585) or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.”