When it comes to natural disasters, it’s essential to have a secure shelter that can protect you and your family from danger. However, among many shelter owners, there’s an underlying fear that they may find themselves trapped in the bunker meant to keep them safe. Entrapment can happen for a series of reasons, from malfunctioning components to poor overall design. But you can avoid it with the right knowledge and resources. Here, we’ll discuss how to ensure your storm shelter is entrapment-proof.
How Common Is Storm Shelter Entrapment?
First, it’s important to mention that entrapment in a storm shelter is fairly uncommon, thanks to modern manufacturing requirements and safety guidelines. Unfortunately, it can still happen, and taking steps to avoid it can make a big difference for you and your loved ones. Entrapment can be the result of a variety of factors, such as faulty doors or locks that don’t work properly. It’s important to make sure your storm shelter always contains the proper safety products to avoid such situations.
Signs Your Storm Shelter Could Trap You
Sometimes, it’s possible to tell whether you’re at risk for entrapment based on the product you purchase and its overall quality. So knowing what to look for can keep you from using a potentially faulty and dangerous shelter. These are some things to consider.
Improper Shelter Placement
For one, placing your storm shelter in the wrong area of the home can lead to entrapment. If a storm shelter sits too close to household clutter or walls, debris from possible storm damage could pile up against the door, trapping those inside. In addition, if there are any water pipes near the entrance of your storm shelter, they may burst nearby and cause the door to clog and seal, preventing anyone from leaving.
Poor Door Design
Incorrectly designed storm shelter doors can also be a major hazard as they can stop working and trap people inside. For example, if the door is too heavy or has an unbalanced spring system, it can become difficult to open during an emergency. Some shelters may have doors made from flimsy materials as well, which could give way under pressure and leave someone stranded inside.
Susceptibility To Damage
Additionally, storm shelter doors that are highly susceptible to damage can easily jam and prevent people from exiting during an emergency. Many storm shelters can’t withstand high winds, floods, or other forces of nature, which could cause the door to break or buckle. While indoor models are mostly safe from the elements, there’s no telling what they could find themselves exposed to should your home sustain heavy frame damage. It’s also important to know if your door is moisture-proof, as a lack of water resistance could cause long-term rusting and deterioration if you live in a particularly humid climate.
How Manufacturers Prevent Entrapment
Modern storm shelter manufacturers are doing their part to ensure the safety of their consumers. Many companies now use heavy-duty materials for their doors, such as steel and aluminum, to make them stronger and more durable than traditional PVC doors. Many shelters also come with multiple locks and have an accessibility-focused design to promote optimal ease when entering and exiting. Overall, it’s important to be aware of these safety measures when choosing your storm shelter and to make sure it’s entrapment-proof.
Safety Tips for Avoiding Entrapment
Among the most important ways to ensure your storm shelter is entrapment-proof is to put in the necessary preparation work prior to a storm. Even if you have a quality shelter, putting a few extra precautions in place will improve your ability to react in a crisis. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
Look for Models With Multiple Exits
One of the best ways to ensure that you can still exit a blocked shelter is to purchase a model with an additional exit. Swisher’s main lineup of above-ground storm shelters has this secondary exit, effectively reducing your risk of entrapment. The only exception to this is our corner shelter, which only has one exit due to its particular shape. If entrapment is a major concern for you as you shop for an indoor bunker, this is a feature you won’t want to pass up.
Test Your Storm Shelter Regularly
It can also be a great help to regularly test your storm shelter. You can do this by opening and closing the door multiple times to ensure that it functions properly. Additionally, you should check that all the locks are secure and in working order. If you find any issues with your storm shelter, make sure to get them fixed right away to avoid any potential entrapment situations.
Tell Everyone About Your Shelter
Informing your family, friends, and neighbors about the location of your storm shelter will be a great way to ensure they can find you in the aftermath. This way, they’ll know where you are and can contact emergency services if needed. It’s important, too, that all individuals living in your home understand how to access and use the storm shelter in case of an emergency. By communicating this information, you can ensure that everyone remains safe and entrapment-free.
Register Your Shelter
Registering your storm shelter with your local township is another important safety measure that can help you in an entrapment situation. By registering your shelter, emergency services will know its location and can respond quickly if no one can find you.
Purchase From a Quality Manufacturer
Above all, though, make sure that you purchase your shelter from a premium manufacturing company. Buying a storm shelter from a reputable and experienced manufacturer is essential for reducing the risk of entrapment. Quality manufacturers like Swisher provide products that adhere to strict standards, ensuring that they’re safe and reliable. So you can trust that your shelter will work correctly in case of an emergency. Additionally, many quality manufacturers have customer service teams that can help with maintenance or repair any malfunctioning components.
In conclusion, storm shelter entrapment is a serious risk that you must prevent at all costs. By following the tips mentioned in this article, you can ensure that your storm shelter is entrapment-proof and that you and your family remain safe. So purchase a Swisher storm shelter. With over 70 years in the manufacturing business, we understand how to create a reliable and durable bunker for EF5 tornados. We even go the extra mile to maximize accessibility with our unique sliding door designs. Check out our selection today to learn more about our efforts to reduce the risk of entrapment.
