What to do in case of a fire

2/24/2021 (Permalink)

Fires are unnerving situations that one hopes never to be put in. Nonetheless, you should be prepared in case a fire breaks out because you may only have seconds to act. The main three aspects to surviving a fire are the following:

• Learn how to work a fire extinguisher. Learning to protect your home but having a fire extinguisher can minimize the amount of damage to your home. If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, you should go out and get one. For smaller household fires, these tools can be effective in stopping the spread of the fire and save your home. When using an extinguisher, remember to use the P.A.S.S
  1. Pulling the Pin.
  2. Aiming the nozzle at the base of the fire (From a safe distance)
  3. Squeezing the lever (to release the extinguishing material)
  4. Sweeping the nozzle from side-to-side until the entire fire is extinguished.
• When fires cannot be extinguished easily, or you don’t have one readily available, you should get your family and pets and vacate the building as soon as possible. Having an escape plan and a safe meeting place in case of emergency is important during this process to make sure that all members of your family are safe. Here is what you should do when you need to escape the building:
  1. Move quickly but safely. If there is smoke, you should always crawl on your hands and knees. Smoke rises first along with the ceiling, so you’ll want to crawl quickly to any exit.
  2. Test doors and doorknobs. Before you open any door, you should check the doorknob. If the doorknob is hot the fire is on the other side of the door and that is not a safe exit. If you open a door, do so slowly.
  3. Get out. If you can reach members of the family or pets without risking your safety, do it quickly and get out. Once you have reached the outside of the building, do not re-enter the building. Take a headcount and report to the authorities any missing people or pets.
  4. Call for help. Once you are safe outside, call 9-1-1 for help. Enlist neighbors for assistance if needed.
• When you can’t escape, this is where prior preparation could save one’s life. It is important that all family members, including children, know what to do in case of a fire within the building. Make sure that children are not afraid of firefighters, making sure they know how they dress in order for them to call out for them. They should never try to hide from a fireperson trying to save their life. Make sure that everyone knows to close doors and cover vents, cracks, or holes. Use a phone, window, or voice to call for help and alert everyone where you are in the building. Have a backup plan in case you are in a building that has multiple levels and finally, if you catch fire, Stop Drop and Roll. Do this until the fire has been extinguished from your clothing.

If your business or home has been affected by a fire, call SERVPRO of San Mateo @ (650) 931-6060.