What To Do During a Home Fire

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

House fires kill over 2,600 people each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

But this does not have to be the case. There are fire safety precautions to keep your family safe in the case of a house fire. Of course, prevention is the ideal approach to fire safety, but if a fire breaks out in your house, you'll need to know what to do. 

Let's go through the steps. 

1. Use a fire extinguisher.

If you hear a fire alarm in your house, do not ignore it; instead, grab your fire extinguisher as a one-stop preventative precaution.

This single act may assist to put out the fire quickly, but if your efforts fail after using the fire extinguisher, leave immediately.

Fire extinguishers are critical and should be put in all homes, whether residential or commercial. If the fire extinguisher does not successfully extinguish the flames, call 911 as you begin escaping to safety. If your phone is not nearby, focus on getting to safety first and then asking a neighbor to use their phone.

2. Let everyone know.

Scream out loud to alert others in the home of the fire situation; do not depend on smoke detectors and alarms to alert others, since they could potentially malfunction due to battery failures and other factors. It can also be important for others to know that this is not a drill or an accidental alarm. 

3. To escape, crawl under the flames.

Fire creates smoke and harmful chemicals that, if breathed, may induce lightheadedness or loss of consciousness—both of which can be dangerous if you're attempting to escape a burning structure. 

To escape a fire, crawl to the nearest exit, keeping in mind that it may be a window. Staying low to the ground can help prevent you from breathing hazardous gases and smoke.

4. Examine the doors and door knobs for heat.

If you have to walk through a door to get to an escape, check the door and door knob before opening.

If the door (or doorknob) feels warm to the touch, there may be a fire on the other side, you should not open this door and should instead find an alternative exit if possible.  

5. Keep your nose covered.

During a home fire, cover your nostrils with a shirt or a moist cloth to prevent smoke from entering your lungs. This is important to keep in mind to remember to cover the faces of children as much as possible, particularly while assisting in getting them to safety. 

6. Close the doors.

Close the door behind you after you've crept out of a room. Research shows that closing doors stops fire from spreading or at least slows the spreading, which simply implies that the fire will be confined to a certain location for a short period.

7. Hurry to safety.

When you go outside, run away from the flames to your pre-determined safety spot.

Run across the street to safety if a section of the home or apartment, such as the roof or siding, catches fire. There is potential for dangerous debris to fall around the perimeter of the structure. 

Notify the fire department officials as soon as possible if you believe any loved ones (including pets) are still inside the home and advise them to where they could be. 
 

Fires are terrifying, but learning what to do ahead of time can help us remain cool if it happens to us.