Fires are known to be very destructive to properties, especially when they are out of control. However, the loss of lives or injuries to the body is considered the worst effect of house fires. Property can always be replaced in a matter of time, but lost lives cannot be restored. Hence, when a house goes on fire, the first asset to save is your life and that of your family and others.
However, when this unfortunate accident happens, few people know what to do to be safe. While some won’t leave without their personal effects, others panic and get trapped. Hence, we shall take you through the process of getting to safety if a house fire breaks out to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Hence, in case of a fire, here are the important 4 steps to take immediately after a home fire to keep yourself and your family safe.
Do not Panic, But Call for Help
A house on fire can easily make those inside too afraid to know what to do next. It’s easy to get worried that you won’t be able to get out, and that can put you in panic mode. Most fire marshalls insist on keeping calm during training and fire drills when in a fire situation. Avoiding panic makes you think and reason accordingly. It also allows you to move faster and in the right direction towards safety. Otherwise, panic can overshadow your judgment and limit your ability to make the right decisions.
From where you are located, you should take a deep breath, look around briefly to understand how the fire is behaving and decide on what to do next. While at it, ensure that your decision takes priority for your safety and the safety of others who may be in the house.
Once you have spotted how to get out, alert everyone in the house who may not have noticed the fire by calling out for help. Shout out the word fire to gain their attention or, if it’s at night, wake them up. If the exit route is still clear and the fire hasn’t spread, wait to guide them to safety since your judgment is much sober. Additionally, If there is a fire alarm switch, push it on or use a loud whistle to alert the neighbors for help.
Using Fire Exit Get to Safety
If you can safely do so, call the emergency services, such as the fire fighting department or the police, by dialing your national hotline or local emergency number. Be loud and specific about your address and details about the fire. Where you are using your mobile phone, do so as you head towards the fire exit and leave the house as quickly as possible.
Avoid areas with dense smoke or burning materials. To continue breathing adequately, walk while bending low or even crawl on the ground to avoid inhaling too much smoke. If you find any doors locked on your path, feel the door and its knob for extreme heat before opening. A very hot touch would mean the other side has more fire spreading than where you are. Hence, seek an alternative escape route.
Close Doors, Head Towards Meeting Point
As you leave the house, close the doors behind you as long as no one else is left behind you. The idea is to limit the amount of airflow into the house, which facilitates the fire’s growth. Thus, preventing oxygen flow and stopping the fire from spreading or slowing its progress allows firefighters to arrive and manage to put it off before it causes more damage.
Once you are safely out of the house, move to the designated fire assembly point if any, outside your neighbor’s house or across the street. Take the role or appoint someone to ensure every member of your family is safely outside and inform the fire fighters of any missing persons. Nobody should be tempted to go back to the house in an attempt to do a rescue mission.
Seek Medical Checkup
In case it took you long to get out of the smoky house or sustained injuries during a house fire, allow the medics to have a look at your health condition as soon as possible. Even if you have got minor burns or mild smoke inhalation, you may get serious implications in future if not treated. In some cases, if a family member is traumatized by the events, consult a professional counselor to help them recover quickly. Otherwise, one may have a hard time living with nightmares or hallucinations, especially if a loved one is lost.
Fire Safety: How To Deal With A House Fire
Fires are known to be very destructive to properties, especially when they are out of control. However, the loss of lives or injuries to the body is considered the worst effect of house fires. Property can always be replaced in a matter of time, but lost lives cannot be restored. Hence, when a house goes on fire, the first asset to save is your life and that of your family and others.
However, when this unfortunate accident happens, few people know what to do to be safe. While some won’t leave without their personal effects, others panic and get trapped. Hence, we shall take you through the process of getting to safety if a house fire breaks out to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Hence, in case of a fire, here are the important 4 steps to take immediately after a home fire to keep yourself and your family safe.
Do not Panic, But Call for Help
A house on fire can easily make those inside too afraid to know what to do next. It’s easy to get worried that you won’t be able to get out, and that can put you in panic mode. Most fire marshalls insist on keeping calm during training and fire drills when in a fire situation. Avoiding panic makes you think and reason accordingly. It also allows you to move faster and in the right direction towards safety. Otherwise, panic can overshadow your judgment and limit your ability to make the right decisions.
From where you are located, you should take a deep breath, look around briefly to understand how the fire is behaving and decide on what to do next. While at it, ensure that your decision takes priority for your safety and the safety of others who may be in the house.
Once you have spotted how to get out, alert everyone in the house who may not have noticed the fire by calling out for help. Shout out the word fire to gain their attention or, if it’s at night, wake them up. If the exit route is still clear and the fire hasn’t spread, wait to guide them to safety since your judgment is much sober. Additionally, If there is a fire alarm switch, push it on or use a loud whistle to alert the neighbors for help.
Using Fire Exit Get to Safety
If you can safely do so, call the emergency services, such as the fire fighting department or the police, by dialing your national hotline or local emergency number. Be loud and specific about your address and details about the fire. Where you are using your mobile phone, do so as you head towards the fire exit and leave the house as quickly as possible.
Avoid areas with dense smoke or burning materials. To continue breathing adequately, walk while bending low or even crawl on the ground to avoid inhaling too much smoke. If you find any doors locked on your path, feel the door and its knob for extreme heat before opening. A very hot touch would mean the other side has more fire spreading than where you are. Hence, seek an alternative escape route.
Close Doors, Head Towards Meeting Point
As you leave the house, close the doors behind you as long as no one else is left behind you. The idea is to limit the amount of airflow into the house, which facilitates the fire’s growth. Thus, preventing oxygen flow and stopping the fire from spreading or slowing its progress allows firefighters to arrive and manage to put it off before it causes more damage.
Once you are safely out of the house, move to the designated fire assembly point if any, outside your neighbor’s house or across the street. Take the role or appoint someone to ensure every member of your family is safely outside and inform the fire fighters of any missing persons. Nobody should be tempted to go back to the house in an attempt to do a rescue mission.
Seek Medical Checkup
In case it took you long to get out of the smoky house or sustained injuries during a house fire, allow the medics to have a look at your health condition as soon as possible. Even if you have got minor burns or mild smoke inhalation, you may get serious implications in future if not treated. In some cases, if a family member is traumatized by the events, consult a professional counselor to help them recover quickly. Otherwise, one may have a hard time living with nightmares or hallucinations, especially if a loved one is lost.
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