When you hear the word "fire," what comes to mind? A blazing, uncontrollable inferno that rages on for hours and leaves nothing but charred skeletons and ash? Or does it make you think of a campfire or a fire in the fireplace? Or is smoke billowing out of a car near where you are driving or
your neighbor's dinner catch on fire? Or maybe you're thinking about the time your friend accidentally threw their cigarette into a pile of leaves and everyone had to run away from the sudden burst of heat.
Either way, we all know that fire is dangerous and a fire happens around us every day. Perhaps you are even aware of a fire that started somewhere, but you don't know how to handle it. Fires happen all the time. They can be caused by many different things: cooking accidents, electrical wiring problems, fireworks, or even arsonists. When they do happen, everyone needs to be prepared with what they should do if they ever find themselves in this situation.
Are there steps that can be taken to help prevent fires from happening in the first place? What do you do once they do happen? To answer these questions and more, we only need to look at this handy list of tips to stay safe.
What to do before there's a fire
If you're like me and you tend to be a little bit distracted, it's important that you know what to do in the event of a fire before one even happens. The good news is that it's pretty simple!
1). Training
Our first tip is to get training on how to react to a fire, whether it's from a professional or from your local fire department. This way, you're prepared for any situation that might arise when the time comes. If you're ever faced with a real fire, you'll know exactly what to do and how best to avoid causing more damage or injury by not knowing how to operate it correctly.
Then, create a plan for everyone in your place in case of an emergency. Have an escape route planned and practice it regularly so everyone knows where to go when there's a fire?
- If there's smoke, get out. If there isn't any visible smoke but something smells like burning plastic or paper, get out. Don't take any chances—you might not realize how quickly a small fire can grow into an inferno if left unchecked.
- If our building catches on fire, we need to get everyone else out too! Always check with someone before leaving them behind; this will avoid confusion during an evacuation situation (and also prevent lawsuits).
- Have your phone ready so that people can call their loved ones from outside the building—or use social media as an alternative way to reach their families after they've been evacuated safely from their homes or workplace.
2). Device
- Fire alarm - Install them throughout your place—especially in areas where people work and sleep—and test them monthly to make sure they're working properly.
- Fire extinguisher - You can get one at any hardware store, and it will fit easily under your sink or in your pantry.
Takeaway: Always be prepared and checked.
What to do if there's a fire
If you find yourself in a situation where there is a fire, you need to know what to do.
First and foremost, stay calm. You may panic, but panicking will only make the situation worse. Take a deep breath and assess the situation.
- If you aren't in immediate danger, try to determine what's burning and how far away it is from you. If it's more than ten feet away, you should be okay—the flames won't reach you.
- If it's closer than that, or if it looks like it's spreading fast, get out of the house immediately.
- If you're trapped inside with no way out, get low to the ground and crawl toward an exit (like a window or door). Cover your mouth with your shirt to protect yourself from smoke inhalation.
Call 911 or your local emergency number. The sooner you can get the word out about the fire, the safer everyone will be. If there's any chance it might be arson, don't hesitate to report it. Once you've called for help, here are a few steps you can take:
- If possible, turn off all electrical devices, including computers and lights.
- If the fire is small, put it out with a fire extinguisher or other wet material.
- If the fire is large or spreading quickly and you don't have access to a fire extinguisher, evacuate it at once.
Take away: Get away from the fire and call 911 before trying to "save" anything.
We hope you've learned a lot from this blog post, and we encourage you to share it with everyone you know. A fire could happen at any time or any place. Never assume that you don't need to worry about fire safety. Always prepare for the worst by having a fire escape plan in place and a fire extinguisher in hand. It's better to be safe than sorry!
If any questions are not covered in this article, don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@flamegenerator.com.
Source: pictures from the website