Fire Safety Tips
According to the National Fire Protection Association, home structure fires cause approximately 82% of civilian fire deaths and 74% of civilian fire injuries.
First rule of survival – get out immediately! You may have as little as one to two minutes to escape, so it is imperative that you and your family have a well rehearsed escape plan (see below for outline).
- You must know how to escape your home in the dark (smoke is thick and dark, and limits visibility).
- Stay as close to the floor as possible in a crawling position – the heat is significantly more intense at shoulder height.
- Prearrange a meeting place a safe distance from your house, for all family members.
- Gather those who need assistance (children, elderly residents).
- Do not go back into a burning home for material objects – those can be replaced.
- Do not try to fight the fire, just get out of the way of danger.
- Call 911 from the outside or a neighbor’s house.
- Don’t jump out of bed. Roll out of bed onto the floor.
- Crawl to the door. Touch the door to see if it is hot. If it’s hot, do not open it. Find an alternate route.
- Try the door. If it is not hot, open the door a few inches to assess the situation. If air behind it is warm, do not use the hallways. Pull door shut and use an alternate escape route.
- Instruct your children. Shout to your children to stay in their rooms with their doors closed. Remind them to open a window slightly and crouch at this window to gain fresh air.
- If you are able to crawl to safety via the hallways, keep your head about one to two feet off the floor. Cover your mouth with a wet cloth, and take short, shallow breaths.
- Have a sturdy ladder that can reach second story windows available outside of your house. Keep ladder in a place that is secure from burglars.
- Keep an escape ladder secured at the window of each bedroom above the first level, and be sure that family members know how to use them.
- Never jump out of a window in a panic. Try to remain calm.
- Plan ahead! Planning in advance can save your family’s lives. Work out primary and secondary routes of escape, and review these plans. Be clear. Quiz your children on all points and rehearse your plan.
- In the event that your clothing catches fire, remember the phrase “STOP, DROP and ROLL.”
Special Note to Apartment Dwellers:
If you live in an apartment, you should know the locations of the stairway and fire exits outside of your apartment building. Never use the elevator during a fire. It could break down or bring you right to the source of the fire. Always use the stairs in a fire emergency.
You should still have a plan in place and be prepared to react, evaluate the situation, and make a decision on how to get yourself out of danger.
