How to Escape from a Fire

We sincerely hope you are never the victim of arson or any other type of fire, but if you do find yourself in house that is engulfed in flames, there are a few things you should know in order to escape. While some fires become so out of control people have no place to go, in most cases fire-related deaths can be prevented. In fact almost half of the deaths caused by fires are because people tried to stay in one place and wait for help. Unfortunately, help often comes too late and staying in one place can cause you to be trapped in a dangerous situation.

If you suspect there is the fire in your home, you should slowly approach the nearest exit and feel for heat. In the event the door is closed, you can place the back of your palm against the door. If it is cool, that means the fire has not yet reached that part of the house. Even so, you should open it slowly and stay close to the ground.

Once you have found an escape route, crawling to the exit is the best course of action. The air will be cleanest near the floor, so crawling will allow you to take in as much oxygen as possible. This is crucial since the fire is actively absorbing the oxygen in the building, making it harder and harder to breathe.

After you have made it to the exit, leave the building and get far away. Don’t stand immediately outside of the house in case the fire causes anything inside to explode or combust. Call emergency services immediately and under no circumstances should you go back inside.

These are just a few tips you can use should you ever find yourself in the middle of a fire. All of us here at John Michael Agosti & Associates hope you never have to go through such a traumatic experience.