Understanding How to React to a Fire Brief Description: Knowing how to prevent a fire from occurring, and how to react to one if danger does occur is very important. Whether you work in an office building, or want to protect the safety of your home, learning fire safety is essential. If you are interested in being safe and protecting your possessions in the event of a fire, learning how to prevent fire damage and be safe in case of a fire, can make all the difference in the world. The more prepare you are, the less you will be affected by this dangerous occurrence. Learning to prevent a fire in your office building or home is the first step. It is very important to learn proper procedures and safety measures, so that you can protect the people and things that are important to you. Make sure that you learn the safety codes in your area. This may mean that you need to install a sprinkler system or fire alarms in every room of your home or building.
Detection and Plan Fires are dangerous and unpredictable, and detecting them as soon as they begin can be tricky without the right safety systems. Make sure that you check them frequently to make sure that they are working properly, and that the batteries are current. Make sure that you develop a safety plan, and that everyone in your family knows what it is, and is comfortable with it. Trying practicing it a few times a year, so that everyone stays completely familiar with it. When a disaster occurs and people are afraid, it will be more difficult to remember things. This is why the more preparation you can do beforehand, the better things will go. Consider drawing a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping every room. In case one route is blocked by fire damage or smoke damage, you need to make sure that you have a backup plan. Make sure that your family has a meeting place outside of the home that you can congregate at, in case you become separated in the confusion of the evacuation
process. Keep flashlights in every bedroom, and make sure that everyone knows where they are—when there is smoke, it can be very dark and flashlights will be necessary for your safety.
Practice and Techniques Practice evacuating the home blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a fire will most likely make it impossible to see, even with a flashlight sometimes. Makes sure that you stay close to the ground when you are evacuating, as smoke will rise to the top of the room. Smoke inhalation can be more dangerous than flames, so holding a wet washcloth over your mouth is also a good idea. Touch doorknobs before opening the door—if they are very hot, this could mean that fire is right on the other side of the door. Only open doors with cool knobs, for this reason. Make sure that emergency numbers are posted clearly next to all of your phones, so that in the case of an emergency they can be easily accessed. If there is danger in your home, make sure that you get out right away, and then make the phone call. You may want to consider purchasing collapsible ladders for the bedrooms in your home with are on a second story. Going down the main staircase may not be an option, and exiting through the window may be the only safe way to go. Make sure that you test them, and keep your children comfortable with them. Keep fire extinguishers in all the main rooms of the home and office, and make sure everyone knows how to use one. They can end up saving your life. After you have evacuated a building, make sure that everyone is accounted for, and is safe.
After the Fire If there has been smoke inhalation, seek medical help right away. The effects of this can be quite serious to your health, and treatment will be necessary for your safety. Only return into your home when the firefighters say that it is safe for you to do so. Clean up the area as carefully as you can, and take care for walls or flooring that may be unsteady. Make sure that all of your electrical equipment is turned off and unplugged when you go to bed every night, or when you leave the home. Do not keep any cords or equipment where the wiring is fraying or damaged. Do not keep Christmas trees after they have become dry—this is a fire waiting to happen. Remember these tips in an emergency, and remain as calm as possible—if you are careful, you and your family can remain safe from this type of disaster. Photo Credit: Kingdafy, Jaxxon