What to Do
What you should do in the event of fire
Have an escape plan
- Plan your escape before a fire happens so that everyone can leave the house as quickly and safely as possible.
- Identify two possible escape routes from every room and plan this with your household present.
- Be sure that your escape plan takes into account the particular characteristics of each member of your family including age, physical conditions, and sleeping habits hearing ability.
- Teach children never to hide under the bed or in a cupboard. Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping.
- Practice fire drills and your escape plan with the alarm sounding. This will teach children to associate the alarm signal with the need to escape.
- Meet at pre-arranged spot outside the home, in order that you can be sure that everyone has escaped properly.
- Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Leaving the house
- Don’t panic; stay clam.
- Check each of the doors on your primary escape route before opening, if they feel hot do not open, use you alternative escape route.
- Crawl on the floor. Smoke and heat rise so you should keep as close to the floor as possible.
- If your clothes catch on fire, don’t run! STOP where you are, cover your face, DROP to the ground, then ROLL over and over to smother the flames.
Once you have left the house
- Call the fire brigade. Make sure you give your full name and address.
- Never go inside a burning building. Only firemen, have the equipment enabling them to go into a fire.
- Do not panic, stay clam – if you act quickly according to these guidelines you will increase your household’s chance of survival in a fire.