What Should You Do When There Is A Fire
Alert everyone In the house
- Make sure everyone knows about the fire in the house. Scream shout make sure everyone’s awake and get everyone together.
Get everyone out
You should already have an escape route planned with everyone that lives in the house.
As you escape, remember:
- Do not make time to look for valuables or look for pets.
- Don’t investigate the fire.
- Remember smoke rises crawl on the floor if there’s smoke. (smoke is toxic and can kill you)
- Only open doors you need to open. And try close as many doors as possible without trapping anyone else, this can help to slow down the spread of the fire.
- When approaching doors feel them with the back of your hand before you open them, if its warm do not open. the fire will be on the other side.
- When escaping make sure you all stay together if you can.
If your clothes catch fire
Stop. Drop. And roll!
- Do not run, you will only fan the flames which will make it burn faster.
- Lay down. It makes it harder for the fire to spread and reduces the effect of flames going on your face and head. – flames burn upwards
- Cover flames with heavy materials like a duvet or coat as this blocks the fire’s supply of oxygen
- Roll around – rolling smothers the flames
If you are trapped by fire
It’s very common for families to be caught in fire situations at night. So make sure you have fire alarms which will give you an early warning of a fire. But if you are trapped in a fire here is some advice.
- Get everyone into a room and close the door after you.
- Seal the gap under the door with blankets, pillows anything that can block the smoke coming through because smoke and fumes can kill you.
- Make sure to open a window and stay close for fresh air and grab someones attention.
- Shout for help so neighbours can hear you so that can call the fire brigade or help in any way possible.
- If you’re not on a high floor you may be able to escape from a near by window
- If you have to break the window, cover the jagged glass with towels or thick bedding
- Make sure to throw out bedding and other soft cushions out the window to break your fall.
- Don’t jump out of the window – lower yourself down to arm’s length and drop to the ground
- Can you lower yourself down to arm’s length and drop to the ground before you think of jumping out of the window?
- If you have any children or elderly or disabled people with you, plan the order you will escape in so that you can help them down
- Don’t stop or go back in for any reason even for pets. It’s the fire brigades job to enter the danger zone.
What to do if you live in a block of flats?
If a fire starts in your flat or the stairwell and you can’t get out what should you do?
- Get everyone into a room that has a window, cover the gap under the door with any type of material like bedding, or cushions to block toxic smoke.
- Grab as much attention through the window as possible wave clothing out the window or sheets to grab the attention of a firefighter.
- if the fire is directly outside your flat, seal your front door with tape, bedding or clothes, close any ventilators and phone 99
- if your front door becomes hot, wet it down
You can learn even more by visiting the MyTeamSafe website – you can try our lone working solution free for 30 days, with text (SMS), email and push notifications. |