Fire!How To Prevent It (Or Survive It, If The Worst Does Happen)
Fire kills...
yet many fires could be easily prevented.
To protect your home and family...
1.
Fit at least one smoke alarm on every floor level.
They're inexpensive, and easy to fit.
2.
Check weekly to make sure they're working.
Replace the batteries once yearly.
3.
Make sure all exits are always unobstructed.
4.
Make an escape plan, and keep it up-to-date.
5.
If you have a safety ladder to rescue people from upstairs, make sure that they can use it easily.
6.
Check if any disabled family members would have difficulty in escaping.
7.
Plan how to evacuate young children, the elderly, or family pets.
8.
If you have window-locks or deadlocks, make sure that everyone can find the keys, and reach them easily.
9.
Arrange some lighting for emergencies.
Battery-operated units for the halls and stairways are easy and inexpensive to install and run.
Check regularly, and replace the batteries when necessary.
10.
Test your plan out every six months.
To take precautions that could save YOUR home and family...
1.
Don't leave frying pans or chip pans unattended; a deep fat fryer with a heat control's much safer.
2.
Don't leave cooking oil beside a source of heat.
3.
Don't leave children or pets unsupervised near any heat source, even for a moment.
4.
Don't leave burning candles unattended.
Put them on a heat-resistant stand, away from curtains.
5.
Keep computers and all electronics clear of dust, and don't put more than one plug in each power socket.
If you need more than that, get extra sockets.
6.
Don't leave appliances on standby.
If they overheat, they can catch fire.
7.
Check your furniture is flame-retardant.
The upholstery of some settees and chairs can burn quite easily, or give off noxious fumes.
8.
If you have polystyrene wall or ceiling tiles, don't paint them.
You're making them a mega-fire risk.
9.
At night, or any time you're going out, close all the inside doors.
That can help to stop a fire spreading.
10.
Dispose of hot ash, cigarette ends, cigars, tobacco and used matches with great care.
Don't leave matches or a lighter where children or pets can get at them - and never, ever, EVER smoke in bed.
If fire does break out, your fast response can make a difference...
1.
Never pour water on an oil fire, like a burning chip pan.
Turn the cooker off, and put the lid back on the pan.
That stops the fire from getting the oxygen it feeds on.
2.
If there's no lid, soak a tea-towel, wring it out and throw it on the burning pan.
3.
Don't carry the pan outside.
Fresh air will make the fire worse.
4.
If something electronic catches fire, cut the power - IF you safely can.
5.
If the fire's small and you have an extinguisher, use it - provided it's the right kind.
Using a water-based extinguisher on an electrical fire does more harm than good.
6.
If there's a fire alarm, set it off.
7.
If there's no alarm, shout "Fire!"It might sound obvious, but it's the very thing a lot of people never think to do.
There can be other people in the area who are in danger and don't know it.
8.
If it's well alight, get out and call for the emergency services - fast.
Don't waste time trying to be a hero.
9.
Make sure you know enough first aid to treat a minor burn or scald - and that you recognize what's minor and what isn't.
10.
If someone's clothes catch fire, wrap them in a coat or blanket to smother the flames.
If you're ever in a fire...
1.
Stay as calm as you can.
2.
Look around to see if anyone is trapped; you can help the emergency services by saying where they're needed.
3.
Smoke rises, so stay low.
4.
If possible, soak a cloth and hold it to your face to breathe through.
5.
Carry out your action plan.
6.
Touch each door before you open it.
If it feels hot, leave it closed - the fire's on the other side.
7.
Don't go downstairs till you can see the hallway's clear.
8.
Don't go from room to room to find a phone - use your cellphone to get help.
9.
If you're trapped, get to a window so that rescuers can see you.
10.
Once you've escaped, let someone know you're safe.
These simple precautions are quick and easy...
but take them, and they just might save your life.
yet many fires could be easily prevented.
To protect your home and family...
1.
Fit at least one smoke alarm on every floor level.
They're inexpensive, and easy to fit.
2.
Check weekly to make sure they're working.
Replace the batteries once yearly.
3.
Make sure all exits are always unobstructed.
4.
Make an escape plan, and keep it up-to-date.
5.
If you have a safety ladder to rescue people from upstairs, make sure that they can use it easily.
6.
Check if any disabled family members would have difficulty in escaping.
7.
Plan how to evacuate young children, the elderly, or family pets.
8.
If you have window-locks or deadlocks, make sure that everyone can find the keys, and reach them easily.
9.
Arrange some lighting for emergencies.
Battery-operated units for the halls and stairways are easy and inexpensive to install and run.
Check regularly, and replace the batteries when necessary.
10.
Test your plan out every six months.
To take precautions that could save YOUR home and family...
1.
Don't leave frying pans or chip pans unattended; a deep fat fryer with a heat control's much safer.
2.
Don't leave cooking oil beside a source of heat.
3.
Don't leave children or pets unsupervised near any heat source, even for a moment.
4.
Don't leave burning candles unattended.
Put them on a heat-resistant stand, away from curtains.
5.
Keep computers and all electronics clear of dust, and don't put more than one plug in each power socket.
If you need more than that, get extra sockets.
6.
Don't leave appliances on standby.
If they overheat, they can catch fire.
7.
Check your furniture is flame-retardant.
The upholstery of some settees and chairs can burn quite easily, or give off noxious fumes.
8.
If you have polystyrene wall or ceiling tiles, don't paint them.
You're making them a mega-fire risk.
9.
At night, or any time you're going out, close all the inside doors.
That can help to stop a fire spreading.
10.
Dispose of hot ash, cigarette ends, cigars, tobacco and used matches with great care.
Don't leave matches or a lighter where children or pets can get at them - and never, ever, EVER smoke in bed.
If fire does break out, your fast response can make a difference...
1.
Never pour water on an oil fire, like a burning chip pan.
Turn the cooker off, and put the lid back on the pan.
That stops the fire from getting the oxygen it feeds on.
2.
If there's no lid, soak a tea-towel, wring it out and throw it on the burning pan.
3.
Don't carry the pan outside.
Fresh air will make the fire worse.
4.
If something electronic catches fire, cut the power - IF you safely can.
5.
If the fire's small and you have an extinguisher, use it - provided it's the right kind.
Using a water-based extinguisher on an electrical fire does more harm than good.
6.
If there's a fire alarm, set it off.
7.
If there's no alarm, shout "Fire!"It might sound obvious, but it's the very thing a lot of people never think to do.
There can be other people in the area who are in danger and don't know it.
8.
If it's well alight, get out and call for the emergency services - fast.
Don't waste time trying to be a hero.
9.
Make sure you know enough first aid to treat a minor burn or scald - and that you recognize what's minor and what isn't.
10.
If someone's clothes catch fire, wrap them in a coat or blanket to smother the flames.
If you're ever in a fire...
1.
Stay as calm as you can.
2.
Look around to see if anyone is trapped; you can help the emergency services by saying where they're needed.
3.
Smoke rises, so stay low.
4.
If possible, soak a cloth and hold it to your face to breathe through.
5.
Carry out your action plan.
6.
Touch each door before you open it.
If it feels hot, leave it closed - the fire's on the other side.
7.
Don't go downstairs till you can see the hallway's clear.
8.
Don't go from room to room to find a phone - use your cellphone to get help.
9.
If you're trapped, get to a window so that rescuers can see you.
10.
Once you've escaped, let someone know you're safe.
These simple precautions are quick and easy...
but take them, and they just might save your life.
Source...