Escaping from a fire
Do you know what to do if your smoke alarm goes off in the night?
Would you and your family be able to escape? In the event of a fire you need to stay calm and act quickly, make sure everyone in your house knows the escape plan.
Tips to get everyone out
- Follow your escape plan and get out
- Raise the alarm. Shout and get everyone together. Make sure everyone in the house knows about the fires. Do not look for the fire.
- Get everyone out. You should have an escape route planned that everyone in your household is familiar with. The best route is the one you always use.
- Don’t delay to look for pets.
- Don’t delay to save valuables.
- If there is a lot of smoke crawl along the floor as the air will be cleaner.
- Only open the doors you need to and close any open doors you can to slow the spread of the fire.
- Before you open any doors. Feel them with the back of your hand, if they are warm don’t open them. The fire is on the other side.
- Make sure you stay together if you are escaping with others.
- Remember get out, stay out, call 999.
Don’t go back in
- You should find somewhere safe to wait near the building.
- If there's someone still inside, wait for the Fire and Rescue Service to arrive. Tell them about the person and they will be able to find them quicker than you.
- If you go back into the building, you will slow down the fire-fighters' efforts to rescue anyone else missing, as well as putting your own life in great danger.
If your clothes catch fire
- Don’t run around. You will fan the flames and make them burn faster.
- Lie down. This makes it harder for the fire to spread and reduces the effect of flames on your face and head. Flames burn upwards.
- Smother the flames. Cover the flames with heavy material, like a coat or blanket; this blocks the fire's supply of oxygen.
- Roll around. Rolling smothers the flames.
If your escape route is blocked
- Be prepared. Think now about which room might be best for this. You need a window that can be opened and, if possible, a phone for calling 999
- Get everyone into one room.
- Close the door. Put cushions, towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block smoke.
- Open the window for fresh air. You can also call for help.
- Call 999 or shout for help and get someone else to make the call.
- If you are on the ground or in some circumstances the first floor, you may be able to escape through the window.
- If you can throw some soft furnishings, bedding or clothing on the ground outside to break your fall.
- Do not jump from the window, lower yourself down at arm's length and drop into the soft pile.
- Lower children as far as possible before letting them drop. Get an adult to break their fall if you can.
- Lower yourself by your arms from the window ledge before dropping
- If you have to break a window use a heavy object to break it at the bottom corner. Cover any jagged edges with clothing, a towel or a blanket.
If you live in a block of flats a fire could start directly outside your flat or in the stairwell
- Get everyone into a room with a window; put cushions, bedding, or clothes around the bottom of the door to block smoke.
- Open the window. If you feel in serious danger, wave a sheet out of the window so the firefighters know you're there.
- If the fire is directly outside your flat, seal your front door with tape if you can, as well as using bedding or clothes.
- Close any ventilators and phone 999, giving the number of your flat.
- If your front door becomes hot, wet it down.
When you're out and safe use a mobile, neighbour’s phone or a phone box to call the emergency services
- On dialling 999 the operator will ask you which emergency service you require.
- Give your whole address, including the town.
- Tell them what is on fire. For example a two-storey house.
- Explain if anyone is trapped and what room they’re in.
- The more information you can give the fire and rescue service, the more quickly and effectively they can help you.
- Don’t worry if you forget to tell the emergency operator any of the above as they will prompt you for the information they require.
- Listen to the any advice the emergency services operator may be able to give you.
Remember - Get out. Stay out. Call 999