What to Do When Glass Breaks: Emergency Guide

Your first priority after glass breaks is the safety of everyone in the area. Keep people — especially children and pets — away from the broken glass immediately. Broken glass, particularly standard annealed glass, produces razor-sharp shards that cause serious cuts.

Do not walk through or near broken glass without heavy shoes with thick soles. Bare feet or thin-soled shoes provide no protection against glass shards.

If glass has broken overhead (skylight, ceiling light fixture), evacuate the area completely and do not re-enter until the glass has been fully cleared and secured by a professional.

After ensuring everyone is safe, your next priority is securing the opening against weather and unauthorized entry. For windows, heavy-duty polyethylene sheeting and 2x4 lumber can provide temporary closure. For doors, a sheet of plywood cut slightly larger than the opening and secured with screws provides a more secure temporary solution.

Do not leave any opening unsecured overnight, especially at ground level or at commercial properties. Call Virginia Glass Windows 24/7 emergency line for professional board-up service if you cannot secure the opening yourself safely.

Wear heavy leather gloves and eye protection for all glass cleanup. Never use a regular household broom — it spreads small fragments widely. Use a stiff brush or cardboard to push large pieces into a container.

Use damp newspaper or paper towels to pick up small fragments and powder — glass dust adheres to the moisture. Follow with a thorough vacuum (including around the entire room, since shards travel surprisingly far from the breakage point).

Dispose of glass carefully: wrap in thick cardboard or multiple layers of newspaper and place in a rigid container before disposal. Label the package "broken glass" to protect waste handlers.

For large commercial breakages, professional cleanup is recommended. Do not use a commercial vacuum without a glass filter — standard vacuums can spread glass dust from the exhaust.

Virginia Glass Windows operates 24 hours, 7 days a week for glass emergencies throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. When you call, have ready: your address, the type and approximate size of the broken glass, and whether the building is secured or needs immediate board-up.

If the damage is from a break-in or vandalism, call police first and document the scene with photos before cleanup begins. Your insurance claim will require a police report.

For insurance purposes, photograph all damage before any cleanup or temporary repairs. Include wide shots showing context (which window, which floor) and close-ups showing the specific damage.