Ultimate Guide: Fixing your House to Sell -- EMERGENCY GUIDE

Preventing problems when fixing your house to sell. --- Fixing your house to sell is not dangerous; with safe work habits, an emergency situation is unlikely to arise. Accidents, however, can befall even the most careful of workers. Prepare yourself to handle an emergency by reading the instructions in this section thoroughly before you need them. The list of safety tips at right covers basic guidelines for performing the repairs in this guide. The Troubleshooting Guide on page 9 puts emergency procedures at your fingertips; it provides quick-action steps to take and refers you to further detailed instructions.

Take the time to set up properly for a repair, assembling the tools, equipment and materials you need; wear appropriate clothing and use any safety gear recommended. Always work methodically; never rush through a job. Read Tools & Techniques for valuable information on the proper use of tools indoors and outdoors, as well as on using ladders and working on the roof. Keep on hand a well-equipped first-aid kit; stock it with mild antiseptic, sterile gauze dressings and bandages, adhesive tape and bandages, scissors, tweezers, and a packet of needles. Also keep on hand a fire extinguisher rated ABC; know how to use it.

Familiarize yourself with the utilities of your home, knowing where and how to shut off the electricity, the water supply and the gas supply; in the event of an electrical, water or gas emergency, you will need to respond quickly. Keep in mind the potential dangers of any substance you use. Sharp tools can cut skin and rough materials can cause splinters. Many cleaners and solvents, glues, adhesives and patching compounds, and finishing products contain chemicals that can burn skin and eyes, and emit toxic vapors that can cause dizziness, faintness and nausea; work carefully with them, always following the manufacturer's instructions, When disposing of any substance, keep in mind its possible impact on the environment; more information is provided on the safe disposal of hazardous substances and consult your local fire department or environmental protection agency for specific regulations in your community.

When you are in doubt about your ability to handle an emergency, don’t hesitate to call for help. Post the telephone numbers for your local fire department, hospital emergency room and poison control center as well as your physician near the telephone; in most areas, dial 911 in the event of a life-threatening emergency. Also seek technical help when you need it. If you are ever uncertain about the nature or safety of a repair, consult a qualified professional; even in a non emergency situation, a building inspector in your community can answer questions about the condition of your home.

SAFETY TIPS:

1. Before attempting any repair in this guide, read the entire procedure; familiarize yourself with specific safety information.

2. Ensure that you know where and how to shut off your home's electricity, water supply and gas supply.

3. Wear the proper safety gear for the job: safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying particles or chemical splashes; rubber gloves to protect your hands from chemical products; work gloves to protect your hands from sharp materials.

4. Keep a first-aid kit on hand; stock it with mild antiseptic, sterile gauze dressings and bandages, adhesive tape and bandages, scissors, tweezers and a packet of needles.

5. When working with flammable chemicals or power tools, have a fire extinguisher rated ABC nearby; be prepared to use it if necessary.

6. Keep children and pets away from your work area.

7. When you are using any product that emits hazardous fumes or vapors, ensure that the work area is well ventilated.

Don’t smoke while using any flammable product.

8. Carefully read the label on any cleaner, solvent, glue, adhesive, patching compound or finishing product you use.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter, paying special attention to any hazard warnings and storage information.

9. Hang rags soaked with a chemical product outdoors to dry or seal them in airtight metal or glass containers. Dispose of and store chemical products safely.

10. Don’t pour chemical products down a house drain or into a septic system. When disposing of leftover chemical products or empty chemical containers, put them out for pick-up on designated Household Hazardous Waste Clean-up Days. (Call your local department of public works for specific information.) Should the service not exist in your community, package the products separately and seal the containers securely before putting them out for regular trash collection.

11. Follow basic safety rules for working on ladders and on the roof. Work with a helper or within earshot of someone else and only in good weather conditions-never when it’s wet or windy. Don’t attempt any repair on a roof if it’s wet or laden with snow or ice.

12. When working outdoors with power tools, use only heavy-duty, three-prong extension cords rated for outdoor use. Inspect the extension cord closely before each use; if it’s damaged, replace it. To secure the connection of the power tool, loop its power cord loosely together with the extension cord before plugging it in.

13. Don’t use power tools in damp or wet conditions. Plug a power tool only into an outlet protected by a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) and never cut off or bypass the third, or grounding, prong on the plug of its power cord; a power tool with a two-prong plug must be labeled "double insulated".

14. Take periodic breaks from your work to rest and inspect what you have done. Never undertake repairs when you are tired. When thirsty, drink a non-alcoholic beverage. Wear a hat when working outdoors in hot, sunny weather.

15. Post the telephone numbers of your local fire department, hospital emergency room and poison control center as well as your physician near the telephone.

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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

SYMPTOM:

• Electrical fire: flames or smoke from power tool or outlet
• Chemical fire: flames or smoke from cleaning, finishing or other chemical product
• Electrical shock
• Power tool, extension cord or outlet sparks, shocks or hot to touch
• Fall from roof or ladder
• Head injury
• Dizziness, faintness, nausea or blurred vision
• Large object embedded under skin
• Splinter
• Skin scratch or puncture from rusted metal or minor wound
• Particle or chemical product in eye
• Chemical product on skin
• Chemical product swallowed
• Chemical product spilled
• Water supply pipe or plumbing fixture leaking
• Gas supply pipe or fixture leaking; odor of rotten eggs detected

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PROCEDURE:

• Have someone call fire department immediately.
• If fire not small and contained or if flames or smoke coming from wall or ceiling, leave house immediately and call fire department from home of neighbor
• Control fire using ABC fire extinguisher
• Shut off electrical power
• Have someone call fire department immediately.
• If fire not small and contained or if flames or smoke coming from wall or ceiling, leave house immediately and call fire department from home of neighbor
• Control fire using ABC fire extinguisher
• If victim immobilized by live current, knock him free of source using wooden implement
• Have someone call for medical help immediately If victim not breathing, administer artificial respiration; if victim has no pulse, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) only if qualified If victim breathing and has pulse, and has no back or neck injury, place in recovery position ( 11) Shut off electrical power.
• Locate and repair cause of problem before using power tool, extension cord or outlet again Have someone call for medical help immediately
• Treat victim of fall; Caution: Don’t move victim
• Have someone call for medical help immediately If victim not breathing, administer artificial respiration; if victim has no pulse, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) only if qualified If victim breathing and has pulse, and has no back or neck injury, place in recovery position
• If indoors, leave work area immediately and get fresh air
• If outdoors, lie down in shade with feet elevated; apply cool, wet cloth to forehead and drink non-alcoholic beverages
• If symptoms persist, seek medical attention
• Support object in place with loose bandages and seek medical help immediately; Caution: Removing object can cause hemorrhage
• Use sterilized needle and tweezers to open wound and pull out splinter
• If splinter lodged deeply or if wound becomes infected, seek medical attention
• Wash wound using soap and water; seek medical attention concerning need for tetanus shot Apply pressure to stop bleeding
• If bleeding persists or if wound is deep, seek medical attention
• Apply ice pack immediately to reduce swelling
• If pain does not diminish or swelling persists, seek medical attention
• Flush eye with water and seek medical help immediately; Caution: Don’t rub eye If burn severe, seek medical help immediately If burn not severe, flush with gentle flow of cool water, then cover lightly with clean cloth soaked in water; Caution: Don’t apply antiseptic spray or ointment, butter, oil, baking soda or alcohol Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water; refer to product label for additional instructions If skin irritation develops, seek medical attention and take product with you Call local poison control center; follow emergency instructions on product label and take product with you to hospital Clean up chemical spill
• Shut off water supply
• Shut off gas supply; leave house immediately and call fire department from home of neighbor

=== EMERGENCY GUIDE ===

SHUTTING OFF ELECTRICAL POWER

10a______

Shutting off power at the service panel. --- If the floor around the service panel is wet, stand on a dry board or a rubber mat or wear rubber boots. Wear heavy, dry rubber gloves and use only one hand; keep your other hand in your pocket or behind your back. At a circuit breaker panel, flip off the main breaker -- as an added precaution, use your knuckle; any shock will then jerk your hand away from the panel. At a fuse panel, remove the main fuse block by gripping its metal handle and pulling it out of the box (inset). On a panel with more than one fuse block, remove them all. If the panel has a shutoff lever, shift it to OFF to turn off power.

Pulling the power cord plug from the wall outlet. If the floor around the wall outlet is wet, or if the wall outlet itself is sparking or burning, don’t touch the power cord or the electrical tool; in stead, shut off power at the service panel (step left). Otherwise, protect your hand with a thick, dry towel or a heavy work glove. Without touching the wall outlet or the electrical tool, grasp the power cord several inches from the plug and pull the plug out of the wall outlet (). Locate and repair the problem before using the wall outlet or the electrical tool again.

SHUTTING OFF THE WATER AND GAS SUPPLY

10b____

Shutting off the water supply. If water is leaking from a plumbing fixture, close its shutoff valve (inset). If water is leaking from an undetermined source, turn off the water supply at the main shutoff valve (), usually located near the water meter or where the main water supply pipe enters the house. It your water supply is provided by a well, look for the main shutoff valve on the main water supply pipe near the pressure gauge or pump.

Shutting off the gas supply. --- The main shutoff valve is located on the main gas supply pipe for the house at the gas meter, usually in the basement. Use an adjustable wrench to shut off the gas supply, turning the valve handle () until it’s perpendicular to the sup ply pipe. To shut off the gas at the boiler or furnace, grip the valve handle on the supply pipe leading to the unit and turn it until it’s perpendicular to the supply pipe (inset).

EXTINGUISHING A FIRE

11a

Fighting a fire. Call the fire department immediately. If the fire is inside the chimney or flames or smoke come from the walls or ceiling, evacuate the house; go to a neighbor's home to call for help. To extinguish a small fire in paints or solvents, in a power tool or outlet, or in furnishings near a fireplace, use a dry-chemical fire extinguisher rated ABC. Note the nearest exit and position yourself 6 to 10 feet from the fire. Holding the extinguisher upright, pull the lock pin out of the handle and aim the nozzle at the base of the flames. Squeeze the handle and spray in a quick side-to-side motion (left) until the tire is completely out. Watch for "flashback," or rekindling, and be prepared to spray again. If the fire spreads, leave the house. Dispose of any burned waste by following the advice of your local fire department. Have 'our extinguisher recharged professionally after every use or replace it if it’s non-rechargeable.

RESCUING AND TREATING A VICTIM OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK

11b

Freeing someone from a live current. Usually a person who contacts live current is thrown back from the source, but sometimes muscles contract involuntarily around a power tool or its cord. Don’t touch the victim or the tool. Immediately stop the flow of electricity, shutting off power at the main service panel or unplugging tie tool ( 10). If the power cannot be cut immediately, use a wooden broom handle, a board or another non-conducting object to knock the victim free of the electrical source.

Handling a victim of electrical shock. Call for medical help immediately. Check the victim's breathing and pulse. If there is no breathing, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; if there is no pulse, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) only if you are qualified. If the victim is breathing and has no neck or back injuries, place him in the recovery position (). Tilt the head back with the face to one side and the tongue forward to maintain an open air way. Keep the victim calm until help arrives.

PROVIDING FIRST AID

12a

Treating a cut. --- To stop the bleeding, wrap a clean cloth around the wound and apply direct pressure with your hand, elevating the limb (). If the cloth becomes blood-soaked, add a second cloth over the first one. Continue applying pressure and elevating the limb until the bleeding stops.

Wash the wound with soap and water, then bandage it. Seek medical attention if bleeding persists or the wound is deep.

Flushing particles or chemicals from the eye. -- Immediately hold the eyelids apart and position the injured eye under a steady, gentle flow of cool water from a garden hose () or faucet. Caution:

Remove any nozzle from the garden hose to prevent an eye injury from a strong jet of water. Flush the eye for 10 minutes, then cover it with a sterile gauze bandage and seek medical attention.

Treating a splinter. Wash your hands and the area around the wound with soap and water. A metal splinter may require treatment for tetanus; seek medical attention. For other splinters, use the point of a needle that is sterilized in a flame or with alcohol to loosen the splinter; pry it up until it can be pulled out with tweezers.

Wash the area again with soap and water to prevent infection, then bandage it. If the splinter is lodged too deeply for removal, seek medical attention.

12b

Treating dizziness or faintness. At the first sign of dizziness, faintness, fatigue or nausea, leave the work area and get fresh air; if you are outdoors, move to the shade. Loosen your clothing at the waist, chest and neck; if you feel faint, sit with your head lowered between your knees (). Before continuing work indoors, have someone ventilate the work area and close all containers; before continuing work outdoors, drink a cool, non-alcoholic beverage, If the symptoms persist, seek medical attention.

Treating the victim of a fall. Have someone call for medical help immediately. Caution: Don’t move the victim until qualified medical help arrives, especially if there is pain in the areas of the neck or back, or if clear spinal fluid can be seen flowing from the ears or nose. Cover the victim to help regulate body temperature in case of shock. Help the victim to stay calm and keep others from crowding around. When qualified medical help arrives, make sure that they are advised of possible spinal cord injury.

CLEANING UP A CHEMICAL SPILL

13a

1 Soaking up the spill. If the spill is more than 1 quart of a product that is flammable or more than 1 gallon of a product that emits toxic fumes, leave the work area and call the fire department. Otherwise, work quickly to clean up the spill. Open windows and doors to the outdoors and turn on fans to increase air circulation. If the spill is small, use a clean rag dipped in the appropriate solvent (chart below) to wipe it up. Otherwise, pour a generous amount of cat litter on the spill () and wait until it’s absorbed. Use an old putty knife or dustpan to scoop the saturated cat litter into a metal container,

2 Cleaning up the spill area. To clean up any remaining traces of the spill, choose an appropriate solvent (chart below) and apply it with a clean rag or a scrub brush; wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. Wash the spill area with a solution of household detergent and warm water, scrubbing with an old broom (). Then, rinse the area thoroughly and wipe it dry with clean rags. To dispose of the waste materials, place them in an air tight metal container, then call your local fire department or environ mental protection agency for the regulations on the safe disposal of hazardous materials in your community.