Having the basic knowledge of how to act in uncontrollable flames can save your life. Even if it seems something distant or that will never happen to us, it is very useful to know how to deal with this situation.
First, if you are looking to prevent this from happening inside your home, always check your electrical installations, plumbing, and gas.
For those who live in an apartment, there is usually a general fire alarm installed in the building for everyone to hear and prepare for an escape, but keep in mind that precaution is always the best choice.
With this in mind, let’s discuss the correct procedure to save your life if a fire is already sprawling.
1. Pull the Fire Alarm
As you exit a burning building, pull the fire alarm. This will notify other people in the building and emergency responders about the blaze.
If you hear a fire alarm in a building, you should exit the building immediately. There is no need to delay, even if you think the alarm was used for a drill. Instead, vacate the premises as quickly as possible.
2. Yell for Help
Even a small fire can escalate quickly. If you see flames or smoke and don’t know what to do, yell for help. This will let others know that you are in danger and need assistance.
3. Remain Calm
A building fire or wildfire may lead to panic, particularly for those who are unprepared. If you develop an evacuation plan for fire emergencies, you’ll be better equipped than ever before to stay calm in any fire, regardless of its size or severity.
4. React as soon as you smell the smoke
It may seem obvious, but waiting for someone to do something or believing the fire alarm to be working at the moment can cost you a life. That’s because a lot of people start doing something only when they see others acting.
As soon as you smell the smoke, don’t wait and try to escape safely. Don’t return to collect your belongings – use the time in your favor and ignore the secondary concerns.
5. Don’t open all doors
If you notice a fire and want to escape, don’t think about opening the first door you see. First, make sure the path is free of any obstacles. Touch the door handle to feel the temperature. If it is normal, you can open it slowly.
If it is very hot, this means the area is already burning and is no longer an escape route, so you will need to think about leaving through a window or finding another emergency exit.
6. Secure yourself from smoke inhalation
Although the first thing that comes to our minds is running, it is very important to avoid inhaling the smoke. This toxic substance causes people to become disoriented quickly and can easily make you unconscious.
Walk down or crawl as the smoke rises quickly. The lower you will breathe, the more chances you have to escape unharmed. Wet a cloth and cover the nose if possible – this facilitates breathing, avoiding any problems caused by smoke.
7. Roll on the floor if the fire hits your clothes
Even if your clothing is on fire, try not to panic, throw yourself on the floor, and roll from side to side. This move will muffle the fire quickly. Cover your face with your hands to protect yourself.
8. Get Outside As Quickly As You Can
Try to get outside of a burning building as quickly as you can. If possible, use an escape route that enables you to exit through a door that takes you directly outdoors.
If you cannot exit a building safely due to smoke or fire, close the door and stay where you are until emergency responders arrive. In the event that smoke is entering the room from under or around a door, you can use blankets, clothing, or sheets to fill this empty space.
Most of the lives are lost due to the protection systems negligence, so try to stay alert and know how to act in these cases so that you can protect your life. Share it with your friends to warn them about possible danger!