A fire starting in the home or workplace is something no one likes to think about, and Total Fire Group hopes users will never have to go through this experience.
However, fires do happen, and users may be tempted to take certain actions, which could possibly put users or others at more risk.
They might seem like a good idea at the time, but there are certain things that users should never do in a fire. Total Fire Group listed 5 of them here.
Retrieving something valuable
A fire can spread rapidly, and before one knows it the escape routes will be blocked off
Remember, a fire can spread rapidly, and before one knows it the escape routes will be blocked off. Never attempt to go back upstairs to retrieve something valuable, or to look for a pet.
To make things easier, consider keeping these sort of items on the ground floor if possible, or securing them in a safe or fireproof box.
If users see smoke seeping through around the edges of a door, then do not open it. As this will add oxygen, that will fuel the fire and possibly cause a fireball. Only open doors that one needs to and close any doors that one doesn’t, in order to slow the spread of the fire. Before opening a door, lightly touch it with the back of the hand. If it’s warm, keep in closed.
Upstairs window
When a fire starts people may be tempted to quickly try and escape out of an upstairs window, but this is dangerous as the fall could seriously injure or even kill them. Assess the situation completely first, before users take this drastic action, as it’s always better to get outside from the ground floor if they can. However, if the window is the last hope, then tie up some bed sheets to form a rope and throw mattresses and cushions out to break the fall.
Being confronted with a fire in the home can be terrifying, and users might be tempted to hide away under a bed or inside a wardrobe or cupboard, but this will definitely not ensure safety.
Not only will this limit their ability to quickly move and run if people need to, but it will also make it difficult for the fire services to find them once they get there. Hiding away like this will not protect people from a rapidly spreading fire, and will certainly not save people from the smoke and heat.
Fire brigade
When a fire has just started, people may think that they have got everything in hand and that they have got plenty of time to react.
However, it’s essential that people swallow their pride and call the professionals straight away, once they realize they can’t extinguish the fire on their own. Every moment people delay in calling the fire brigade will eat away at the precious time they have to save their possessions and property. Not to mention, of course, that every second can save their life and others. At Total Fire Services, they provide fire risk assessments designed to give users complete peace of mind.