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In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out
of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a
house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.
The most important thing you can do is plan ahead. Have
two routes of exit in case of a fire in your home.
In the event your home is on fire, stay calm. Always stay
as close to the floor as possible; the air is cleaner and cooler
near the ground. In a blaze, the temperature at knee level may be as
cool as 90 degrees, but a burning 690 degrees at shoulder level.
Stay on your hands and knees to avoid the heat and smoke. If you are
behind closed doors, do not open the door until after you feel it.
If it is hot, do not open it. If it is cool, drop to the floor
before you open it and crawl out to your escape route. On your way
out, be sure to close all doors behind you. This can delay the fire
for hours.
It is also a good idea to keep a flashlight near your bed so
you can find your way around. Remember, in a real fire there is no
light! If you are in the process of rescuing your family and help
has not arrived, you should cover your mouth and nose with a wet
cloth (such as pouring some water on a hanky). Although this will
only provide limited protection from smoke inhalation, it may give
you a few more precious seconds while going to save your family. Do
not stand up or run through the fire, crawl. Hot smoke rises so keep
low, it will kill you faster than the flames will. Go to a safe
place that has been predetermined before the fire and make sure
everyone is present and accounted. Call for help from the safe place
unless you were in a position to call while you were still in the
home.
Smoke can contain poisonous gases which may not affect a
person immediately. Only a medical doctor can determine the extent
of inhalation injuries.
We offer these first aid tips for smoke inhalation:
- Check the area. Make sure you or the casualty are not in
danger, especially from smoke or fire.
- Check the casualty. How is breathing, pulse? Are they
conscious and coherent?
- Loosen any tight clothing on the person and seat them
comfortably in a semi-sitting position.
- Monitor breathing closely. Be prepared to give artificial
respiration should breathing stop.
- Give first aid for shock.
- Get medical help immediately.
If you are burned, do not put ice directly on a burn. Do
not put butter or any ointments on a burn. At best, run cool water
over the burn until help arrives. If you are suffering from smoke
inhalation, try to go inside a neighbor's home to get away from
the smoke until help arrives.
The Facts:
Fire is black
A real fire is so dark that you can barely see the flames. You will
be lost and confused by the thick smoke even in your own bedroom,
unless you know what to do. You must know how to escape your home
with your eyes closed.
The odor of smoke will not wake you
The poisonous gases actually put you into a deeper sleep! Most fires
occur at night and only a loud noise, such as a smoke alarm will
wake you when you're sleeping.
The fire's heat is intense
You don't have to be near the flames to be injured. Your body cannot
survive temperatures higher than 150 degrees, (that's hot enough to
cook some food in an oven), and a fire can rage over 600
degrees! Learn what you can do to survive this kind of heat.
There is no time to think
You may have as little as one minute to escape once a fire starts.
If a fire is not put out in 30 seconds, it should be considered out
of control. Every second must be used to get out!
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