Fire destroys. It's one of the most violent and destructive forces on Earth, second only to an irritated James Kirk. A fire can destroy your home, and kill you, your family, and even your dog. Fires have
killed more people than car accidents. It's the stuff of nightmares. You're in your home and suddenly you smell smoke. Sure enough, it's coming from inside. Where is it? How can you stop it? What should you do first? When seconds count and you don't have time to think, you need to know exactly what to do before, during, and after a fire. Below is a helpful list of fire safety tips for every
member of your home.
What to Do Before a Fire
You think fire safety is important. You tell your kids not to play with matches and put the cigarette butt in the ashtray, but what do you really do to prepare for a fire? The sad truth is that most people don't know what to do in case of a fire. Most don't even make preparations to be able to escape in time or have anything ready for their families when they get back.
Below are the top 6 things you need to do. Be prepared and perhaps save lives.
- Test smoke alarms monthly. Install the right number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and change the batteries if they’re not working. Teach the kids what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
- Store flammable and hazardous materials properly. Keep matches and lighters up high, and heat sources from anything that can burn at a safe distance.
- Know the locations of fire extinguishers and how to use them. Having the right fire extinguisher is vital for home safety, so it is necessary to know the types and learn how to operate the fire extinguishers.
- Make sure everyone knows how to call the fire department. It is quite important no matter whether you are in or out of the house at a fire. Teach your kids what, when, and how to do if they find a fire.
- Establish a family emergency communications plan. Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another. Fire prevention isn't the most fun topic to discuss, but it could save lives, so planning ahead is your best protection against fire.
- Take fire safety training. Being prepared for a fire can save your life. Practice live-fire drills regularly. Contact the fire department or the fire extinguisher training authority to find out more.
What to Do During a Fire
If a fire starts, the simple answer is GET OUT, STAY OUT, AND CALL FOR HELP! Whether the fire is small or large, knowing what to do can make life easier when a fire strikes. Being prepared should be your number one target. What If a fire broke out in my house right now? How would I know
what to do? Simple answers. Read on for more information.
QA: What should I do first when a fire occurs?
Answer: Get out! Time is of the essence. Leave the building immediately and close the doors behind you after you hear the fire alarm or notice a fire. Never use elevators, even if they are working. Use the stairs and proceed to the assembly area.
QA: If the fire can't be put out, what to do?
Answer: If you try to use a fire extinguisher on a fire and the fire does not immediately die down, drop the extinguisher and get out. Most portable extinguishers will be empty in 8 seconds.
QA: What to do if smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes?
Answer: Stay in the room with the doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
QA: What rules should you follow if you must escape through smoke?
Answer: Get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close the doors behind you.
QA: If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, what should you do?
Answer: Use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
QA: What if you can't get out?
Answer: If you cannot evacuate, go to a room that can be sealed off from smoke and close all windows and doors. Call the fire department and notify them that you cannot leave the building. Provide them with your location, call-back number, and any other pertinent information. Stay on the line until you are told to hang up. Always follow instructions from the fire department.
QA: If your clothes catch on fire, what to do?
Answer: Stop what you’re doing. Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can. Roll over and over, or back and forth until the flames go out. Running will only make the fire burn faster. Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin with water for three to five minutes. Call for medical attention.
What to Do After a Fire
You've been through a fire at your house and you're not sure what to do next. You're not alone. Many people are in the same boat as you: they don't know what to do after a fire. They don't know how to start rebuilding their lives after such an emotional and traumatic event has occurred in their home. And that's okay! It's totally normal to feel this way. But there are things you can do to help put yourself back together and get back on track with your life.
First things first: it's important that you get out of the house immediately after the fire. This should be obvious, but it needs to be said anyway—don't try to salvage anything from inside the building! Your first priority is getting yourself and your loved ones safe, which means leaving everything else behind for now (including pets).
Next up: call the fire station immediately. The sooner you call for help, the better off everyone will be—especially if there are any injuries involved or if other people were inside when the fire started (elderly family members or children). The fire department will reach out as soon as possible and begin assessing the situation.
ALWAYS remember:
If you're in the middle of a fire, use first aid to help yourself and others. Cool and cover burns to reduce the chance of further injury or infection, and let friends and family know you're safe. If someone is seriously injured or burned, they should be transported to professional medical or veterinary help immediately. Stay out of fire-damaged homes until local fire authorities say it is safe to re-enter.
Fire is one of the most dangerous natural disasters which can not be ignored. It is not always possible to prevent a fire in your home. Sometimes fires are started by accident or may be caused by natural disasters. No one knows when or where a fire will strike, but if it does find its way into your home and you don't have a plan to escape, then you could lose everything and become trapped.
We hope that these fire safety tips will be useful for readers. Thank you for reading this article and we hope that it helps successfully implement the essential fire safety tips in your life. Please pass this link along to everyone you know and help make our communities safer by teaching them about fire safety! For more information about fire extinguisher training, please visit this link: www.flamegenerator.com.
Source:
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- The American National Red Cross