The scent of a campfire or logs burning in the fireplace on a cool autumn night might smell good, but it’s not good for you. Within smoke are thousands of carcinogens that can damage your lungs and have adverse effects on your health. After a house fire, once the fire department has left and the fire is out, health risks still remain. The smoke damage and lingering smell of smoke within the house mean that there is still a risk to you and your family. Aside from a fire’s immediate threat, associated health risks cause by house fires linger. Know what they are and be prepared before you reenter your home.
Respiratory Issues
Respiratory problems like asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis are all aggravated by leftover soot and smoke damage in your home. If you have any of these conditions, then smoke damage removal is imperative. Smoke will find its way into every nook and cranny in your house and even into the furniture. Fabrics will hold all the smoke and particulate matter and harbor a dangerous mix of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and soot. Those chemicals are lingering in your home, coating your lungs, and making it harder to breathe with every passing day.
Eye Irritation
Walking into a home that has fire damage can produce an immediate reaction in your eyes. They will become itchy, watery, and bloodshot. Just like an allergy to pet dander or pollen, your eyes will react to the chemicals in the house. The leftover particulate matter will linger behind drapes, in drawers, and in closets. Hazards often emerge in other rooms besides the one where the fire started.
Skin Problems
The soot and smoke damage can irritate the skin too. If you have sensitive skin, the chemicals lingering in the house can exacerbate that problem. Lotions and showering are often inadequate to relieve the itchiness and dryness caused by smoke damage.
Long-Term Risks
If not addressed soon, long-term health risks caused by house fires may result. If smoke damage is allowed to linger in a home, the occupants may face serious health problems. Breathing toxic soot and gases leftover after a fire is not good for anyone, especially those with compromised health. A professional fire removal company can get rid of any residual smoke damage or soot in your home.
