9 THINGS TO DO WHEN IN A HOUSE FIRE 

8/28/2019 (Permalink)

Prevention is always the first step in all instances. To prevent a house fire from causing severe damages you truly need tips and tricks that could come in handy in times of a house fire. Fire is disastrous, and you have to be cautious because in as little as two minutes, a house fire can turn into a rapid movement and life-threatening disaster.

According to FEMA, each year thousands of Americans die in fire related incidents with billions of properties lost. In fact, the heat and smoke from the fire causes more deaths. Here are some tips and tricks you will need during a house fire:

1. Get The Fire Extinguisher.

If you hear the sound of the fire alarm in your home do not ignore it, go for your fire extinguisher as a one stop preventive measure. This singular act can help curb the fire instantly, but if your effort proves abortive after using the fire extinguisher, leave the scene immediately. Fire extinguishers are very important and should be installed in every house, no matter if private or commercial.

2. Raise an Alarm.

Inform others in the house of the fire situation by screaming out loud; do not rely on smoke detectors and alarm to inform others, they might sometimes malfunction due to battery faults and other reasons.

3. Call 911.

Pick up your phone and call the fire department after leaving the property, do not stop inside the house searching for your mobile device as you could get caught up in the flames. Rush out, and ask neighbors or passer-by to help you call the fire department.

4. Leave Valuables behind.

When in a fire, never delay to find the best possible escape route from a burning house to find valuables. You could always notify the fire safety officers when they arrive of such valuables describing their last known location.

5. Stop, Drop and Roll.

If your clothes catch fire, do not run, simply drop to the floor and roll over your back to extinguish the fire. Always crawl and remain close to the ground to keep you away from the high temperature, and thick smoke from the fire. Stay low, until you escape the burning house.

6. Cover Your Nose.

Cover your nostril with a shirt or a damp towel during a house fire; this will prevent smoke from entering your lungs. Also cover the faces of children as much as possible, especially when helping out to get them to safety.

Lastly do not run into a room filled with smoke or flames, doing that means running into massive danger.

7. Close doors.

Once you crawled out of a room, close the door behind you. Research has proven that closing doors prevents fire from spreading, which simply means the fire will be relegated to a spot for a while.

8. Rest Out.

Once you are out of the house, stay out. Even if you left your animals or property behind, do not enter a burning house. Notify the fire department officers immediately if you believe people or pets are still in the house and direct them to where they could be.

9. Safety Evacuation Spot.

After the evacuation, meet the rest of the family members in a predetermined location and remain there until everyone in the household is rescued. This is done to prevent fire officers from searching for people who are already out of the fire.

*Courtesy of: https://www.lifehack.org/487224/9-things-to-do-when-in-a-house-fire