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Thinking about fire, nobody would ever want to live without it. The fire was the most significant discovery ever made by humans. Fire cooks our food, and it heats our roof. Fire is used in almost every kind of industry and manufacturing. It's winter, and everybody loves to turn the heat up and relax in their houses. But fire can be dangerous too and you must know what to do incase of fire to help yourselves and your loved ones incase of fire in the building.
According to National Fire Prevention Association, more than 2600 fatalities are due to the building fire. The National Fire Prevention Association(NFPA) estimates that:
- Every 23 seconds, fire departments respond to fire-related emergencies
- One injury occurs every 47 minutes related to an injury from the fire in the building.
- One death occurs every three hours and eight minutes from building fire-related emergencies
The nature of fire is to destroy, so despite it all being good, it can be dangerous. As we know, a fire in the fireplace can warm your house, but a fire in the wall can destroy it. We must learn the basic steps to follow during a fire in the apartment or building and prevent ourselves and the people around us from unnecessary violence and needless disturbance.
What to do if your building is on fire?
Have you ever thought about what to do in case of fire? Everyone will face the danger of fire someday in their lives, and they need to have a basic knowledge of fire safety. The top priority should be getting out of a building or apartment with fire safely and quickly. You must know the fire exits and how to get there because smoke and fire can block the way to the doors you are thinking of taking.
Knowing fire safety will guide you to on what to do in a fire. If you have the proper guidance about fire safety, you can protect yourself and your loved ones during the fire in the building. Fire safety teaches you the steps to prevent and keep yourself and your family safe in case of a fire in the building. Below are some of the steps you should take in the event of a fire:
Use the Fire Extinguisher If Possible
You may be able to contain the fire if it has just sparked, for example, if the pan catches fire on the stove. Just grab the fire extinguisher and use PASS:
- Pull the pin
- Aim the flames at the base
- Squeeze the lever slowly and firmly
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side
Make sure you completely put out the fire using fire extinguishers and ensure the small fire is not burning slowly.
Crawl on the ground to escape
Fire produces smoke and poisonous smoke, which can cause lightheadedness, and you may lose consciousness. So, it would help if you crawled on the ground when you tried to escape from a fire in the building. When you crawl on the floor, you will inhale less smoke and poisonous gas, making your chances of survival higher and a safe exit from the fire in the building.
Look for heat in the doorknobs and windows.
Always check if the doorknobs are warm whenever you exit the door or windows. If the doorknob is warm, the other side must be on fire, so you shouldn't open the door. If you open it and there is a fire, close the door and move towards another exit.
Escape to safety
Once you make it out of the fire safely, you need to immediately run away from the building on fire to a safe place. Run across the street or down the block to safety, as a portion of the home, apartment, roof, or siding might catch fire and fall around the building's perimeter.
Call 911 or your local emergency number
Now that you have reached a safe place call 911 and ask for help. If you don't have a mobile, ask neighbors for help and alert 911 or your local emergency number about the fire in the building. Tell them the emergency location, and always keep your line open if they need additional information.
What to do if you are trapped during a fire in the building?
Sometimes following the perfect escape plan also needs to be revised. Even if you went through all your fire safety checklists, you can still be a fire victim and trapped in your building or apartment. I know it sounds scary, but don't panic. I will discuss some of the steps you can follow to keep yourself safe from the fire until the emergency rescue team arrives:
If you are trapped in a room
If you are trapped in a room during a fire in the building, following the below steps can keep you safe until the emergency personnel arrives to your rescue:
- Try to close all the doors and windows between you and the fire. Also, close all the cracks around the door to prevent the smoke from entering your room.
- Call 911 and report the situation if you have a working phone. Stay on the phone until the emergency rescue team arrives for your help.
- Prepare to signal your presence to the emergency fire team by hanging the colored clothes or bedsheet. You can use the flashlight at night.
If you are trapped on the upper floor of the building
- Use wet clothes under the door to prevent smoke from entering the room.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number and ask for help. Keep talking on the phone until the fire department comes to your rescue.
- If you need to get out a window, but there isn't a roof or fire escape nearby, hang from the window with your hands and lower yourself to the ground to reduce the height of the fall.
- In case you need to break the glass to get out of the window, use a chair, table, or another similar object to prevent yourself from injury. Throw bedsheet or curtain when escaping to prevent broken glasses.
If you caught in a smoke
- Drop your hands and knees on the ground and try to move forward with the head facing the base of the wall.
- It would help if you did not crawl on your bellies as they might store toxic air.
- Avoid breathing through your mouth; instead, breathe slowly through your nose, covering it with clothes available.
- If your clothing catches fire, stop wherever you are. Cover your face and mouth with your hands to protect them, and roll over on the ground to put the fire out.
- Call 911 or your local emergency number for help if you have a phone.
If you caught a Small fire
A small fire can be extinguished using a fire extinguisher if you know how to use it properly. Although a small fire is smaller, it can create great damage if you don't put it out on time. Below are some of the steps to follow if you encounter a small fire:
- Activate the fire alarm and alert people in the area
- Avoid the fumes and smoke
- Put out the fire using the extinguisher
- Call 911 or fire safety officers for help
If you are trapped in High Rise Apartment
If you live in high rise building, there are a few more things you need to consider in case of fire in the apartment:
- You need to know about the apartment evacuation plan, the location of the fire alarm, and the way to use it.
- Listen to the public address system carefully.
- Don't use elevators while leaving the burning building. Use the stair in the emergency exit.
- If it is not possible to reach the stairway, go to the room with the window facing outside
- Call 911 and ask for help, if you have a working phone
- Be patient and sit in a place where the rescuer can easily see you
Remember, the most important thing is to stay calm and find a way to escape safely. Do not try to run through the smoke or flames, as this can be extremely dangerous and could lead to severe injury or death. If you cannot escape, try to find a safe shelter until help arrives. If you have a fire escape plan, follow it to the best of your ability. If you do not have a fire escape plan, remember these steps and stay as safe as possible until rescue workers arrive to help you.
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