What to do if there's a fire
Would you know what to do if your smoke alarm went 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.
Follow the tips below 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 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 - you can 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 fire-fighters 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
