What to Do during a Fire

No one anticipates a fire happening. However, you don’t want to be taken completely off-guard if one does occur. If your fire sprinklers in Berkeley Heights have gone off, it’s time to act fast. However, it can be difficult to know what to do during a fire. Those first few seconds after the alarm sounds are vital. It could make all the difference in getting out safely. To ensure that you and your loved ones know exactly what to do during a fire, review the following tips and practice them regularly. Then, in the event of an emergency, you will know exactly what to do.

1. If your room is filled with smoke, get as low as you can. Smoke can be dangerous and deadly to your lungs. It tends to accumulate along the ceilings first. Crawling on the floor will help you to avoid a majority of the smoke.
2. When you hear the alarm, get moving. Fire spreads quickly. You may only have minutes to get out safely. As soon as the alarm sounds, get out.
3. Feel the door knob. If it’s hot, find another way out. If a door knob feels hot, it means that there is a fire on the other side. That means that you shouldn’t open the door. Instead, use a window or some other way to get out.
4. Shield yourself from the smoke. In some cases, the only way out will be through the smoke. If this is the case, do your best to shield yourself from it. Crawl low to the ground and if possible, cover your mouth and nose. This can help to filter some of those deadly toxins from getting into your body.
5. If smoke is coming in from under the door or around the frame, don’t open it. Use another way out instead.
6. Don’t open the door quickly. Instead, if the door knob isn’t hot and there isn’t smoke coming in from around it, open it slowly. If you notice that there is heavy smoke or fire too close for you to escape, shut the door and find another way out.
7. If there is someone around you who needs help, do your best to get to them quickly and get them out. However, if you can’t help them, get out of the building quickly and call 911. Be sure to tell the emergency dispatcher exactly where the person is located.
8. Be sure to let firefighters know if there are any pets or people left in the home once you have escaped.
9. If you can’t escape from your home, close the vents, cover the cracks around the door, and call 911. You can also use a light-colored piece of clothing or a flashlight to signal for help from your window.
10. In the event that you catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll. Roll back and forth vigorously until the fire is put out. If someone else is on fire, use a towel or a blanket to smother the fire.
11. Conduct a head count as soon as you are outside of your home. Make sure everyone is accounted for.
12. Leave valuables and belongings inside. It’s more important that you escape and are alive than if your passport is okay.

While it may be hard to keep your wits about you once a fire hits, a cool head could keep you alive. Once your fire sprinklers in Berkeley Heights go off, it’s time to act quickly. Make sure that you know what to do beforehand. By reviewing these tips regularly with your friends and loved ones, you will be better prepared should a fire break out. 

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