subject: Effective Fire Evacuation Plan for Your Safety in Case of Emergency [print this page] Effective Fire Evacuation Plan for Your Safety in Case of Emergency
Having a Fire Evacuation Plan in case of emergency is vital for an orderly and safe evacuation of building occupants, minimizing spread of fire, and relaying helpful information to the firefighters. Before doing any other emergency tasks, ensure your own life's safety first.
When you identify that there is fire, immediately pull the nearest fire alarm to inform the other building occupants. Look for a phone and call the Fire Department for help. Give them the necessary and right information about your location so that they can help you immediately.
Fire extinguisher with guaranteed shelf-life is a must have in every homes and buildings. There should be at least one unit on every floor or one in every 200-square meter space. This will help you deal with the fire in its early stage.
If the fire is just small, get and utilize a fire extinguisher. Use the procedures linked with the acronym "PASS".
Pull the extinguisher's pin and hold it about six to eight feet from the fire
Aim the nozzle at the base of the base
Squeeze the trigger
Sweep the hose of the extinguisher back and forth until you completely put the fire out or until the fire extinguisher is emptied.
If the fire is extinguished, report the event to the Fire Department so that they can investigate the cause of fire for future prevention.
If you fail to extinguish the fire, implement the proper evacuation plan. When evacuating, just walk, do not run, and try to keep calm. Turn off all your electrical appliances, leave the lights on, and close all windows and doors. If you need to pass through smoke, crawl low. Remember not to use the elevators. Go to the safe area outside the building and wait for the emergency response personnel. Never reenter the building and try to save your personal belongings. Think of your safety first. If you think someone is missing or trapped inside the building, inform the emergency personnel. You can only reenter the building when advised to do so by the Fire Department personnel to make sure that the place is already safe.
When you are trapped inside the room, close the door and stuff the spaces around the door to keep the smoke from entering inside your room. Put a wet cloth in your mouth to serve as a filter. Wait by the window and signal for help. You can use a towel, cloth, and other things that can be easily notice and seen. In case your clothing catches fire, do not run, instead stop, drop, and roll!
Your Fire Evacuation Plan to be effective must be updated and reviewed yearly or whenever there are changes on the building's structures. All the occupants must be properly trained on what to do and how to escape the building during emergency situations. Everybody should be aware where the escape routes are. Make sure that escape routes are short, properly signed, and the passageways are not blocked. Install emergency lighting system so that it will not be too difficult to find the escape routes when emergency occurs at night.
Time is the biggest enemy in the event of fire. Every seconds count because in less than thirty seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire. That is why, a sound Fire Evacuation Plan can increase your chance of survival and can save more lives!
