7 Proven Measures to Take During Fire Emergency
Did you know that over 350,000 house fires occur in the United States every year? It’s scary to think about, but house fires are all too common and can happen to anyone.
Because of this, it’s important to know what steps to take should a fire occur in your home. Listed below are 7 crucial measures to take during a fire emergency. Check out Fast Fire Watch on to learn more.
1. Identify All Exits
Regardless of where you are, you should know where the exits are in case of an emergency. This remains true in your own home. Take your family through your house, noting all exits, including windows and doors in each room.
If you live in an apartment or multi-story home, be sure that everyone above the ground floor has access to a fire escape or an escape ladder.
2. Don’t Hesitate to Evacuate
Once you’ve determined there is a fire in your home, do not call the fire department right away or waste any time collecting your belongings. In order to keep yourself and your family safe, you must evacuate as quickly as possible.
3. Feel Doors Before Opening
When approaching a closed door during a fire, be sure to check it for heat before opening it. If the fire is close to the other side of the door, opening it will feed the fire oxygen, allowing it to grow and spread.
4. Stay Low to the Floor
The majority of deaths during a house fire aren’t due to the flames themselves, but from inhaling the toxic smoke created by them. This is why it’s imperative that you stay low to the floor while evacuating, to minimize your smoke inhalation.
5. Stop, Drop, and Roll
You’ve probably heard this phrase a thousand times, but it really is the best course of action, should you or anything on your person catch fire. Rolling on the ground will deprive the fire of its fuel source, oxygen, putting it out.
6. Have a Designated Meeting Place
Your household should have a designated meeting place in case of a fire emergency. This spot should be outdoors, far enough away from your home to ensure everyone’s safety, but close enough that you can get to it easily.
As mentioned above, in the event of a fire, don’t wait — get outside and to your meeting place immediately.
7. Call the Fire Department
Once you and your family are safely outside, it’s time to call the fire department to report the incident and get help for your home. You will need to give the emergency services a clear description of what’s happened and where you are, so take a moment to collect yourself if you need to.
Unfortunately, there will likely be damage to your home and your belongings. Give yourself a day or two to grieve the loss if your home was severely damaged, then call a fire damage repair and restoration team to get you on the road to recovery.
Teach Your Family These Fire Emergency Steps
Now that you know what steps to take during a home fire emergency, you can teach them to your family to ensure that everyone knows the proper protocol. You never know, being aware of what to do during a fire could be a lifesaver for you or someone in your family.
Looking for more tips for emergency preparedness? Check out our blog!
