Be Prepared For Extreme Heat

8/6/2019 (Permalink)

Stay out of the heat!

A heatwave is an extended period of extreme heat and is often accompanied by high humidity. These conditions can be dangerous and even life-threatening for people who don’t take the proper precautions.

Prepare for a heatwave by checking to see that your home’s cooling system works properly.

• Make sure your home is well insulated, including weather stripping around doors and windows.

• Keep storm windows up all year.

• Plan on being inside a cool building during the hottest time of the day.

• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, or awnings.

• Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.

• During a heatwave, slow down and avoid strenuous activity. Stay inside as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, consider going to a public building or to the lowest floor and staying out of the sunshine. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine. Eat small meals and eat more often.

• If someone is experiencing heat cramps, get them to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids at a rate of a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give caffeinated or alcoholic liquids, which can worsen conditions.

• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, including cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal. If you see signs of heat exhaustion, get the person out of the heat and to a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give him or her cool water to drink.

• Watch for signs of heatstroke, including hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high—as high as 105º F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, his or her skin may be wet otherwise, it will be dry. If you see signs of heatstroke, call 9-1-1 and get help fast. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body by immersing the victim in a cool bath or wrapping wet sheets around the body and fanning the victim. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the person refuses water or is vomiting or his or her level of consciousness changes, do not give them anything else to eat or drink.

Arapahoe Community College and SERVPRO Provides a Workforce Training Program

3/4/2019 (Permalink)

Education is the key to success.

SERVPRO partners with Arapahoe Community College to provide employees with a workforce training program. Workforce training prepares workers with the skills necessary for a specific type of job. The training program offers career development opportunities which will be accessible to all staff members and new hires. Learning opportunities will include mentorship, online training, group collaboration and trying something new without the fear of failure.

SERVPRO will provide course material which will be implemented in the training program. The training program provides its participants with new skills, enhanced resumes and long-term employment opportunities.

Course participants are trained on the technology they need to succeed in specific job roles. Qualified restoration, mitigation and construction professionals will teach participants through actual demonstration of standard industry methods using a structured course syllabus. Employees have the opportunity to take advantage of learning new skills which enhance their value in the workforce.

Course Outline

• Production Crew Expectations
• Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
• Water Damage Mitigation
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Documentation/Job File
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Handling Material & Safe Lifting

We believe in providing our employees with the tools they need in order to succeed in the workforce and in life. We want to ensure our employees have the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill future roles. 

National Preparedness Month

9/7/2018 (Permalink)

Be Prepared

September is National Preparedness Month 

National Preparedness Month (NPM), recognized each September, provides an opportunity to remind us that we all must prepare ourselves and our families now and throughout the year. This NPM will focus on planning, with an overarching theme: Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.   

Take time to learn lifesaving skills − such as CPR and first aid, check your insurance policies and coverage for the hazards you may face, such as flood, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Make sure to consider the costs associated with disasters and save for an emergency. Also, know how to take practical safety steps like shutting off water and gas.

The devastating hurricanes and wildfires of 2017 reminded the nation of the importance of preparing for disasters.  Often, we will be the first ones in our communities to take action after a disaster strikes and before first responders arrive, so it is important to prepare in advance to help yourself and your community.

SERVPRO offers a number of resources which help homeowners & business owners be prepared when a disaster happens.For more information please call us at 303-576-6868 ask for Danielle Neff. 

SERVPRO also offers an Emergency Ready Plan for commercial & residential apartments. 

Benefits of the Emergency Ready Plan?

• Have a plan of action before an event occurs.
• Identify and eliminate hazards and risks to help prevent potential disasters.
• Identify major water, electrical and gas shut off locations.

https://www.ready.gov/september

Labor Day

8/31/2018 (Permalink)

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day in the United States is a Public Holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American Labor Movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country. It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend and it is considered the unofficial end of summer in the United States. It is recognized as a federal holiday.

Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movement grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor. "Labor Day" was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, which organized the first parade in New York City. In 1887, Oregon was the first state of the United States to make it an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty states in the United States officially celebrated Labor Day.

Canada's Labour Day is also celebrated on the first Monday of September. More than 80 countries celebrate International Workers' Day on May 1 – the ancient European holiday of May Day – and several countries have chosen their own dates for Labour Day.

To Learn more about Labor Day, please visit: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day

Educational Institutions Sponsors

6/22/2018 (Permalink)

We Support Educational Institutions

The owners of a Colorado SERVPRO  wholeheartedly support educational institutions, and are dedicated to preserving the integrity of every educational institute.

Who are Nick and Travis?

The brothers grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating from the University of Iowa in 2011, Nick with a degree in accounting and Travis with a finance degree.

Nick worked in public accounting for 6 years until purchasing a Colorado SERVPRO franchise in 2016.

Shortly after Nick moved to Colorado, Travis closed their consumer finance business and joined his brother in Colorado.

Keeping in mind their educational background contributed to the success of SERVPRO. Nick and Travis wanted to show appreciation for education by sponsoring their hometown U of I Hawkeyes.

Concepts & Core Values 

• The belief there is an educational foundation behind every successful business and establishment.
• Supporting all employees in the pursuit of furthering their education.
• Providing proper training and education for all employees.
• An investment in knowledge is an investment in individual growth as well as business growth.

A little more about our U of I Alumni:

While working in public accounting Nick became a board member of Tree Des Moines, which is a community non-profit organization supporting a healthy and sustainable urban tree canopy for a viable and livable Des Moines Metro Area. He worked with children; educating and helping them better understand the biology behind different tree species and how they benefit the environment.

After graduating college Travis wasted no time opening a consumer finance business, managing and operating Osprey Capital SD LLC for 6 years. However, he wanted to make a change in people's lives,co-owning a Colorado SERVPRO gave him the opportunity to help people whose homes have been damaged by storm, water, fire or mold.

http://hawksontherocks.com/

SERVPRO Helps Aurora Family with Christmas

12/27/2016 (Permalink)

They were so excited that Santa came!

We are so happy that we were able to help an Aurora family provide a Christmas for their children. Our communities are what keep our business going and we are delighted that we were able to give back. Here is what the mother had to say: 

"I am absolutely in love with this company and the staff!

Me and my family have experienced such a generous amount of care and positivity from everyone !

When hearing about my family difficulties this past year Kimber, reached out and emailed me stating that me and my family were chosen to get help from SERVPRO for the holidays!! I was is such disbelief and so happy. I had been going through some hard days getting down because me and my husband would not be able to afford a Christmas for our children. And just like that Kimber told be that we would be sponsored and to get a list together!

As me and my husband were putting lists together we just kept saying over again how excited we were for the kids and how lucky we were that these people were so generous, and we couldn't believe this was happening to us!

Kimber has been amazing upfront and helping with everything, she is caring and so genuine!

Thank you for everyone at SERVPRO for making Christmas happen in my home, for my kids! I can't wait to see them open their gifts.

It's been a deeply humbling experience seeing the kind heartedness of others this Holiday season, and everyone at SERVPRO is absolutely amazing!!"

A Tip for De-Winterizing your home

6/1/2016 (Permalink)

Source:homeguides.sfgate.com/dewinterize-house-88126.html

Maintian your pipes!

Turn on the cold water faucet first and then the hot. Run water slowly to make sure there are no leaks in the drain pipes. If the drains seem to be okay, increase the flow and flush the supply lines allowing the water to run from faucets for 10 to 20 minutes. Test the shower fixtures as well.

35 Ways to Winterize Your Home

2/2/2016 (Permalink)

Credit: home.howstuffworks.com

1. Consider using green alternatives to traditional insulation. There are several options including cellulose and spray foam.

2. Learn from the old timers! Plant evergreens close to your home and consider planting a windbreak on your property. A windbreak can save up to 30% in energy costs.

3. Your attached garage can add to the difficulty in heating your home. It is a large, unheated space that usually shares a wall with either the kitchen or the den. Either way, keeping it warm helps keep the whole house warm. Take a look at the instructions to make this garage solar heater.

4. Install a permanent furnace filter to save waste and to keep your air clean.

5. Wrap the windows in plastic to keep out those arctic blasts.

6. You can also use bubble wrap to cover your windows. The air in the bubbles helps to insulate even more.

7. Sew a draft stopper

8. Install weather stripping

9. Use non-vinyl blackout curtains to trap the heat in and keep the cold out.

10. Add a door sweep to each exterior door.

11. Head to your local feed store and buy straw bales to place around the foundation of your home. This will block cold air and help keep the floors warmer, especially if you have pier and beam.

12. Have your furnace serviced to make sure that it is running properly and safely.

13. Check the duct-work where it is exposed. Our house is old and pier and beam and all the duct work is under the house. Over the course of a year raccoons and other visitors may pull at it, tear it, or loosen it from the registers. We almost always have to repair a few ducts.

14. While you are checking the duct-work consider insulating it as well. This helps keep the heated air warm as it moves through unheated spaces under the house or in the attic.

15. Reverse the direction on your ceiling fans. This will push the hot air down and help it recirculate through out the house.

16. Install foam insulation gaskets around your electrical outlets and keep the outlets covered when not in use.

17. Installing storm doors and windows can save you up to 45% on your energy bill.

18. Move furniture off your vents.

19. Consider these high efficiency heating tips.

20. Cover your water heater with an insulating blanket.

21. If you have an old fashioned radiator use a fan to help spread the warm air and a put a reflector behind it.

22. Buy organic cotton thermal long johns for everyone in the family.

23. Keep your ears covered.

24. Wear layers of clothing made from breathable organic fabrics.

25. Eat soups to help keep your body temperature up.

26. Shut the door on rooms you don't use, if there are any.

27. If you live in an old house, live in it the way they used to. We have a fireplace in the kitchen and a kitchen door. We spend many winter days around the kitchen table with the fireplace crackling (we have had a lot of trees fall the past year) and the door closed. We keep the heat to the other areas of the house very low.

28. Improve the air quality of your home. Sealing your thermal envelope too tightly can be dangerous if you don't look out for your air quality. Get a heat recovery ventilator if you seal your house up tight.

29. Grow some herbs and vegetables inside. Not only are they great to add to soups and stews but plants filter toxins out of the air.

30. Open the curtains on the south/west side of the house during the day to get the most of the sun's warmth. Close up at night to keep out the cold.

31. Cold feet? Put a little ground cayenne or ginger in your socks. You can do the same with mittens but don't do this with small children. If a finger goes into an eye it is painful!

32. Put hot baked potatoes wrapped in a piece of flannel in your bed about 15 minutes before you plan to get in it. Your bed will be warm and you will have potatoes ready to make hash browns at breakfast.

33. Another old fashioned fix it to hang a thick curtain in front of the door. Use the round hangers and you can easily push it aside to open the door.

34. If you have a two story house the upstairs will always be warmer than the downstairs. Plan on spending more time up there.

35. Bake bread. It is fun, it warms up the house, and it tastes great.

6 Winter Home Improvement Projects to Get You Off the Couch

12/24/2015 (Permalink)

• Source: Quicken Loans
• by Christine Brackel
• on January 2, 2013

Read more at http://www.quickenloans.com/blog/6-winter-home-improvement-projects-couch#q1EKEIMakqfVtqbW.99 

Having a lazy day once in a while isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re stuck indoors because of the cold, why not turn your snow day into a “go day”? The weather outside may be frightful, but home improvement can be oh so delightful. If you’re feeling the post-holiday blues, here are some simple home improvement projects to get you moving.

Do some painting

Did you know that cold weather is ideal for drying paint? The dryness of the winter months actually makes winter the perfect time to paint the interior, so crack a window, grab your favorite brush and make the cold work for you! Select a bold color and paint an accent wall in your living room. Or add dimension to your bedroom by painting the ceiling. If you’ve really got the DIY bug, use painter’s tape to create stripes or patterns on a wall. Whatever you choose, new colors are a sure way to add visual interest to your walls and bring a splash of sunshine into a drab winter home.

Change out your light bulbs

This one’s a bit of an investment, but you won’t regret replacing your bulbs with energy-efficient ones. It’s a great way to go green and save money. On average, an Energy Star qualified light bulb will save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime, so don’t let the upfront cost of these bulbs scare you away from making the purchase.

Install a backsplash

Backsplashes are to kitchens, as spices are to spaghetti sauce; they’re essential for completing the flavor. If you’d like to kick your kitchen up a notch, a backsplash will help accessorize and emphasize your countertops, cabinets and appliances. For a kitchen that needs color and life, a flashy or textured tile can wake up a plain scheme. For a kitchen that already has personality, sleek, neutral tile can add elegance and unity to the room’s look. If you’re daring in your design, check out Krissy’s post for unique backsplash ideas. And when you’re ready to go, this guide from HGTV can help you figure out how to install your very own tile backsplash.

Refurbish your doors

Interior doors can have a lot of visual impact on your home. The good news is you can virtually “replace” all of your doors without spending excessively. Here are some ways to make over your interior doors.

• Paint them. Dark doors can make your home look more expensive. Colored doors can look much more modern and whimsical than traditional wood.
• Change the doorknobs. Updated hardware is an instant fix for outdated doors.
• Add molding to flat doors. Molding can create dimension and give an elegant, expensive feel to any run-of-the-mill doorway.

Give your closet a makeover

Is organization on your list of resolutions for 2013? Kick off your most-organized year by tackling your closet. If you create a place for everything, you’ll be a lot more likely to put things away. There are so many things you can do to customize a closet for your needs. To start, install shelving, purchase an over-the-door shoe rack and donate all the items that you no longer need, wear or fit into. Check out this post for more ideas to help you get your closet in order.

Organize your mudroom

Make messy mudrooms a thing of the past. If your family’s coats and boots are out of control, use the mess as motivation to rein in the chaos once and for all. Check out my suggestions for organizing your mudroom here, and by the time next winter rolls around, entranceway disarray will be a distant memory.

By focusing on the inside of your home while the weather is cold, you’ll have a lot more time to tackle the warm-weather stuff when spring rolls around. What kind of home improvement tasks are you tackling this winter? Let us know in the comments!

Transnational Ventures-Jibu Clean Water Business Project

11/19/2015 (Permalink)

Servpro of West Littleton/Sheridan is honored to be a part of the Transformational Ventures Clean Water project.

Transformational Ventures is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Jibu-Uzima in Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya! This water franchise initiative started with a phone call just one year ago, but is the culmination of ten years of relationship building and strategic partnerships among Northside Christian Church in Houston, TX, Redeemed Gospel Church in Nairobi, and The 1010 Project in Denver, CO (which became a part of T-Ventures in 2013).

Jibu-Uzima is a community focused business solution for the people living in Embakasi, the third largest informal settlement in Nairobi (after Kibera and Mathare), who have limited access to clean, affordable water. The water depot -- the hub where the water is purified, bottled, and sold -- is in a retrofitted shipping container built by Chombox.

The phone call one year ago was from a generous donor who challenged T-Ventures with a $10,000 matching gift opportunity and a desire to see something innovative and impactful in the Redeemed community. After praying through options, Melissa Schaap (T-Ventures) reached out to Josephine Chavaseki (Redeemed) and it's sister church, Northside, and discussed the idea of pursuing a water business. Melissa also contacted Jibu, a company that trains and finances African entrepreneurs to solve the drinking water crisis. At that point, Jibu had successfully launched water franchises in three other East African countries; we inquired about the timing and possibility of opening up their Kenya market.

Jibu franchise owner, Josephine Chavaseki, has been facilitating business training for both business and social entrepreneurs at Redeemed and in their community for the past five years. Through T-Ventures, she had also connected with business and leadership coach, Jacquie Fedo, of Coaching 410 in Boulder, CO, and together, they have been learning and growing through regular coaching sessions via phone and Skype over the past two years. As a result of all of this training and mentoring, Josephine was well prepared for the Jibu franchisee selection process and has been working diligently for many months to open the first Jibu franchise in Kenya.
  Josephine has hired three employees to carry out the daily operations and they have set goals to sell 1000 liters of water/day in the initial months, and more than 2500 liters/day by March 2016.

Josephine named her franchise "Uzima" meaning "life," based on John 10:10 and her history with The 1010 Project. All of us join her in praying that the water they sell in their community will point people to Jesus as their Living Water, the One who gives us abundant life.

Special thanks to our many financial partners who have invested in the start-up capital to launch Jibu-Uzima, including: Patricia L. Kimball Endowment of the Shasta Regional Community Foundation, Northside Christian Church, SERVPRO of West Littleton/Sheridan, Graland Country Day School (through the Penny Harvest program), 5 Star SWD, and more than fifty individuals who have given generously to make this business possible! To God be the Glory!

To learn more about this business endeavor or to make a donation and receive a high quality water bottle (just a few left!), please contact Melissa Schaap.
  

Managing Autumn Lawn and Leaf Cleanup

10/20/2015 (Permalink)

Source: About News

www.environment.about.com

Autumn Leaves: Burning Fallen Leaves May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Burning fallen leaves used to be standard practice across North America, but most municipalities now ban or discourage the incendiary practice due to the air pollution it causes. The good news is that many towns and cities now offer curbside pickup of leaves and other yard waste, which they then turn into compost for park maintenance or for sale commercially.

And there are other burn-free options as well.

Burning Leaves May Spark Health Problems
Because of the moisture that is usually trapped within leaves, they tend to burn slowly and thus generate large amounts of airborne particulates—fine bits of dust, soot and other solid materials. According to Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources, these particulates can reach deep into lung tissue and cause coughing, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath and sometimes long-term respiratory problems.

Leaf smoke may also contain hazardous chemicals such as carbon monoxide, which can bind with hemoglobin in the bloodstream and reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood and lungs.

Another noxious chemical commonly present in leaf smoke is benzo(a)pyrene, which has been shown to cause cancer in animals and is believed to be a major factor in lung cancer caused by cigarette smoke. And while breathing in leaf smoke can irritate the eyes, nose and throat of healthy adults, it can really wreak havoc on small children, the elderly and people with asthma or other lung or heart diseases.

Small Leaf Fires Can Cause Big Pollution Problems
Sporadic individual leaf fires usually don’t cause any major pollution, but multiple fires in one geographic area can cause concentrations of air pollutants that exceed federal air quality standards. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), several leaf and yard waste fires burning simultaneously in a particular locale can cause air pollution rivaling that from factories, motor vehicles and lawn equipment.

Fallen Leaves Make Good Compost
Purdue University consumer horticulture specialist Rosie Lerner says that composting leaves is the most eco-friendly alternative to burning.

Dry leaves alone will take a long time to break down, she says, but mixing in green plant materials, such as grass trimmings, will speed up the process. Sources of nitrogen, such as livestock manure or commercial fertilizer, will also help.

“Mix the pile occasionally to keep a good supply of air in the compost,” she says, adding that a compost pile should be a minimum of three cubic feet and will generate soil conditioner within weeks or a few months, depending on conditions.

Mulch Leaves Instead of Burning
Another option is to shred leaves for use as mulch for your lawn or to help protect garden and landscape plants. Lerner suggests adding no more than a two-to-three-inch layer of leaves around actively growing plants, chopping or shredding the leaves first so they don’t matt down and prevent air from reaching roots.

As to using leaves as mulch for your lawn, it is just a simple matter of mowing right over the leaves with the lawnmower and leaving them there. As with leaves used for garden mulch, this will provide many benefits,including weed suppression, moisture conservation and moderation of soil temperature.

For more information:
U.S. EPA Residential Leaf Burning Facts
Composting for Beginners

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