HOW
TO SURVIVE...
In
1993, 3,720 Americans died in home fires. That's more than 10 people a day.
Tens of thousands more were injured. People can survive even major fires
in their homes if they are alerted to the fire, get out quickly, and stay
out.
PLAN YOUR
ESCAPE
When a fire occurs, there's no time for planning. Sit down with your family
today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping from a fire.
Draw a Floor-plan
of Your Home
The floor plan marks two ways out of every room - especially sleeping
areas. Discuss the escape routes with every member of your household.
Agree on
a Meeting Place
A meeting place outside your home where every member of the household will
gather after escaping a fire to wait for the fire department. This allows
you to count heads and inform the fire department if anyone is trapped inside
the burning building.
Practice
Your Escape Plan
Practice at least twice a year. Have a fire drill in your home. Appoint
someone to be monitor and have everyone participate. A fire drill is not
a race. Get out quickly, but carefully.
Make Your
Exit Drill Realistic
Pretend that some exits are blocked by fire and practice alternative
escape routes. Pretend that the lights are out and that some escape routes
are filling with smoke.
BE PREPARED
Make sure everyone in the household can unlock all doors and windows quickly,
even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars need to be equipped
with quick release devices and everyone in the household should know how to
use them.
If You Live
in an Apartment Building
In apartment buildings, use stairways to escape. Never use an elevator
during a fire. It may stop between floors or take you to a floor where the
fire is
burning.
If You Live
in a Two-story House
If your house is a two-story, and you must escape from a second-story
window, be sure there is a safe way to reach the ground. Make special arrangements
for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. People who have
difficulty moving should have a phone in their sleeping area and, if possible,
should sleep on the ground floor.
Test Doors
Before Opening Them
While kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up as high as you can
and touch the door, the knob, and the space between the door and its frame
with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, use another escape route.
If the door is cool, open it with caution.
If You're
Trapped
If you are trapped in an area, close all doors between you and the fire.
Stuff the cracks around the doors to keep out smoke. Wait at a window and
signalfor help with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight. If there's a
phone in the room, call the fire department or 911, and tell them exactly
where you are.
GET OUT FAST
In Case
of Fire
When there's a fire, don't stop for anything. Do not try to rescue possessions
or pets. Go directly to your meeting place and then call the fire department
from a neighbor's phone or an alarm box.
Every member of your household should know how to call the fire department.
Crawl Low
Under Smoke
Smoke contains deadly gases, and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner
air will be near the floor. If you encounter smoke when using your primary
exit, use your alternate escape plan. If you must exit through smoke, crawl
on your hands and knees, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm)
above the floor.
AND STAY OUT!
Once you are out of your home don't go back for any reason. If people
are trapped, the firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. The heat
and smoke of a fire are overpowering. Firefighters have the training, experience,
and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.
PLAY IT SAFE
Smoke Detectors
More than half of all fatal home fires happen at night while people
are asleep. Smoke detectors sound an alram when a fire starts, alerting
people before
they are trapped or overcome by smoke. With smoke detectors, your risk of
dying in a home fire is cut nearly in half. Install smoke detectors outside
every
sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Follow
installation instructions carefully and test smoke detectors monthly. Change
all
smoke detector batteries at least once a year. If your detector is more
than 10 years old, replace it.
Automatic
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Sprinklers attack a fire in its early stages by spraying water only
on the area where the ifre is detected. Consider including sprinkler systems
in plans for
new construction and installing them in existing homes.
PEOPLE PROTECTING
PEOPLE SINCE 1896
Copyright 1995 National Fire Protection Association
Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269