Every year, thousands of people die in incidents related to
fire and properties worth billions are lost as well. To safeguard life and
property from fire, prevention is a must. There are several ways you can do so.
However, it is entirely possible for fire to break out despite your best
efforts. In such cases, it is necessary to know the right way to react and get
to safety. Here are the points you must keep in mind when a fire occurs.
Reach for the Fire Extinguisher:
Whenever you hear the fire alarm in your building, get ready
to take action. Head straight towards the fire extinguisher and get it. Never
ignore a fire alarm. The Fire Extinguisher can act as a preventive measure and
even limit the fire if it is small enough. However, if your efforts with the
fire extinguisher fail, leave immediately and seek shelter outside.
Spread the Alarm:
As you start to leave the area, start warning other people
and spread the alarm of the fire. Scream out if necessary. Smoke detectors and
alarms might not work all the time. After all, they might be damaged or are
malfunctioning for various reasons. Raise the alarm so that others can also get
away.
Call Emergency Services:
At the same time, you should contact emergency services. Ask
the fire department to step in. Clearly tell them the location of the fire and
answer any other questions if asked. If you do not have your mobile with you,
never rush back to the scene of the fire. That can be extremely dangerous. Ask
neighbors or other people to call the fire department.
Forget the Valuables:
If there is a fire, people often rush to save their
valuables. However, you must never do that. Any delay can increase the danger
that you are in. Instead, find the best escape route. Once you escape, you can
inform the fire department officials where the valuables were last located.
They will have the equipment and training to retrieve the valuables.
Stay Down:
While trying to escape a burning building, crawl on the
ground or remain close to it. This will help you stay away from the smoke and
high temperatures. After all, they tend to rise towards the ceiling. Always
stay low to the ground till you escape.
Cover the Nose:
Grab a towel or shirt to cover the nose and mouth when you are trying to escape a burning building. If at all possible, choose fabrics that are damp. This prevents the smoke from entering the lungs. Smoke can cause significant damage to the lungs.
Roll When on Fire:
When escaping, if your clothes catch fire, never start
running in panic. Stay calm and start rolling on the floor to stop the fire.
Shut the Doors:
When escaping, it is a good idea to shut the doors of the
room you leave. Closed doors make it harder for the fire to spread from one
room to another. As such, the fire is likely to remain in a spot for some more
time. That can be enough to save more lives.
Reviewed by Kanex Fire
on
August 18, 2020
Rating:
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