Accidents are a common occurrence in the home and they can be caused by several factors. One of the most common forms of accidents in the home is glass breaking. This unsettling household mishap can be hazardous if not properly managed. From shattered mirrors or broken windows, broken glass can leave a lasting impact on lives and properties if it is not immediately attended to. This is a guide that will walk you through the right steps to take if glass breaks in your home.
10 Steps To Take of Glass Breaks In Your Home
When dealing with broken glass, the immediate step to take is to ensure that everyone around the accident is safe and has not incurred any injury. There are several other things to do to ensure that it is properly resolved and future occurrence is prevented. Here are some of these steps:
1. Be Calm
With accidents comes a lot of pressure and tension as a result of fear and anxiety. The most important thing to do at an accident scene is to stay calm. Take a deep breath and stay calm, this helps you make rational decisions and avoid further complications.
2. Safety First
Immediately an accident occurs, people around the scene including victims go into rescue mode and try to secure themselves. When glass breaks, the reaction should be the same– immediately check that no one is injured or cut by the shattered glass. If there are any injuries, the wounds should be treated promptly and with the utmost medical attention.
3. Keep Children and Pets Away
Minors and pets should also be immediately removed from the scene of the accident. Kids can be clumsy and oftentimes careless, the best prevention is to take them away from where the glass breaks to avoid injuries and cuts.
4. Protect Yourself
Another step to take when glass breaks in your home is to protect yourself from flying shards and broken glass. Cover vulnerable areas like your hands and feet and wear protective gear like gloves while you attempt to clean the broken glass. Remember safety of lives is the first response.
5. Move Large Glass Pieces
After prioritizing the safety of pets, children, and lives in general, the next step is cleaning the area of the incident. For broken glass, the area is extremely sensitive and should be treated as such. Many times, in the process of glass breaking, shards of glass can spread across the entire space which calls for a high level of attention. Hence, start by picking up larger pieces of glass and safely disposing of them.
6. Sweep and Clear Smaller Pieces
Moving large glass pieces gives room for you to see the shattered smaller pieces. For instance, in the case of a broken mirror, smaller pieces of mirror glass tend to hide in corners and these cause a bigger problem if not early detected. However, once you’ve taken out bigger chunks, you should sweep with a dustpan the remaining pieces.
7. Vacuuming the Area
Broken glass is a hazardous mess and it is very important to be thorough when clearing accident areas. In being thorough, vacuuming is the next step you should take immediately after sweeping. Any glass you may have missed will be picked up by the vacuum and you can avoid further damage.
8. Safe Disposal of Broken Glass
Cleaning and clearing the site is important but the job is not over until disposal. Whether you are using plastic bags or containers, broken glass should be properly disposed of and labeled before throwing it in the trash. By doing this, you can ensure that sanitation workers do not sustain any injuries as well.
9. Clean the Area
A double cleanse is something you want to do to be extra sure you have gotten rid of every piece of broken glass. Introduce a suitable cleaner to get this done especially if you have toddlers.
10. Inspect For Likely Cause
Going the extra mile to inspect the cause of the accident to avoid a recurrence is a crucial step to take. An inspector gives you insight into whether the glass breaking was caused by external forces or otherwise. It helps you make an informed decision and you can identify the source and prevent future hazards.
Get Help From a Professional
With the information provided in this article, you can prevent accidental cuts and injuries that may occur when glass breaks in your home. However, if a major hazard occurs, it’s important to seek professional help to get your house properly cleaned up. Boston Board Up’s team is full of trained experts who are eager to help families prevent risks and injuries in the home. Feel free to contact Boston Board Up for their exceptional service and expertise.