Repairs are a part of life and we’ve all had to think on our feet or ask for help to fix them. As a roofing contractor, I deal with repairs everyday at work. Now that I’m a father of twins, the repair requests come flooding in.

Watching two kids is harder than one; you’re lucky if only one kid gets hurt that day. Luckily, I’ve found that my expertise on the job has helped me when my kids get hurt. For my children’s injuries, I’ve turned to a four step guide I tell my customers to use when evaluating their roof’s damage.

Step 1: Assess the Damage

The main goal when examining the damage that has been done is to answer: how bad is it? Let me illustrate a good spectrum to go by. If there is only a small leak coming through your ceiling the damage is small. A leak coming from a cut on your child would also be considered minor.

The scrape might not seem small to your young one, but they’ll survive with a Barbie or Spiderman band-aide. As for the roof, a much bigger, thicker band-aide will be needed along with a little hammering. However, the task can be done yourself and doesn’t require a professional.

Now let’s set up the other side of the spectrum where a professional will be needed. When it comes to your roof, if you can see what’s on the outside from the inside that’s extreme damage. On your child, if the opposite is true, you can see what’s on the inside from the outside, that would qualify for a hospital visit.

Step 2: Make Temporary fixes

If the damage falls on the more serious side of our spectrum, make use of materials around the house that can prevent further damage. Use buckets or garbage cans under the leaks in the house to catch the falling water. This will protect your floors and furniture from deterioration from the roofing catastrophe.

As for your kid’s serious injury, use gauze, bandages, or towels to soak up the drainage from the opening. A bucket may be of use here as well for the car ride to the hospital if the towels can’t handle the job.

Step 3: Contact Insurance

Depending on the damage, you may want to contact your insurance company. See if the damage will be covered through your homeowner’s insurance. However, hiring a contractor may be more beneficial for you financially.

Calling your insurance company may or may not be necessary before getting your child treated. However, knowing where your insurance is accepted and what your medical treatment costs are beforehand could save you money.

Step 4: Contact a Professional

If the job is too big for your nonprofessional handy work skills, it’s time to seek an expert. When hiring a contractor, do your research. Make sure they are licensed and have a highly recommended reputation.

Hopefully, you won’t need to check the physician’s licensing. However, as I said before, make sure your insurance is accepted by the physician, or surgeon handling your child’s wound.

Handling roofing repairs and managing your child’s injuries may seem very different, but I found a connection. That connection has helped me be prepared and remain calm when tragedy strikes my child’s world.