Fire Safety Tactics

How to Survive During a Fire

Fire Survival Tactics:

Each year millions of dollars of damage occur because of fires, but more significantly, unprepared people are injured and lives are lost. Fire prevention is an important part of an active Home Safety Plan. Every family needs to know what to do in the event of a fire, and what he or she can do to prevent the conditions that can cause a fire.

How fires are caused:

Fires usually begin when three elements come together: heat, fuel and oxygen. We can’t do anything about oxygen, which is in the air. Try and be sure that fuels and heat don’t join any oxygen. Accelerants can be anything from candles, newspaper and wooden furniture to gasoline and other dangerous and unsafe materials. Heat is caused by everything from open flames and sparks to friction and electricity.

When a fire happens:

Your family should have established procedures for escape. The plans procedures should be reviewed as often as possible, for during an emergency situation it is easy to forget or loose focus. In the unfortunate situation that a fire does occur, no matter how small you think a fire is you must report it, and prepare for evacuation if it is necessary. It only takes seconds for a small fire to get out of control. Also, what you can see may not be the whole fire. Only trained professionals can tell for certain.

Fire Extinguishers:

There are several different types of fire extinguishers, each for a specific use. It is important to verify that you have the right fire extinguishers to do the job. It is also advisable to post a guide (large enough to be seen without glasses) on the wall next to the extinguisher or as part of the sign, that gives instructions on use. These instructions should be reviewed in regular health and safety classes. In the excitement of an emergency, it may be difficult to remember what to do.

Preventing fires:

There are several things that can be done to avoid the possibility of a fire occurring. Take an inventory of your area, looking for potential fire hazards such as materials that are sitting or stacked together, or flammable materials like paper or cloth placed near an electrical outlet or a lamp. Here are specific measures you can take:

Dispose of cigarette butts correctly. You may have thought that your cigarette was out, but it might end up in area that has a dangerous accelerant and spark a fire.
Space heaters should be authorized for use first, even in approved areas. Extra care should be used to make sure they don’t touch anything while on and are turned off after use.
Electricity hazards: Replace frayed or worn cords and wires; don’t over load your electricity outlets, fuses or home appliances. Be sure to have a good ground connection.
Flammable substances: Store them in approved containers, clean up spills immediately, dispose of both flammables and clean up materials quickly and properly, never store flammable materials around oxidizers, and any flammable substances should be used only in well ventilated space.