FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES
- Never smoke in bed.
- Do not throw cigar and cigarette butts into waste basket.
- Always have an ashtray available in your home.
- Crush your cigar stubs thoroughly before discarding them.
- Strictly obey “No Smoking” signs.
- Do not set the lamp too close to the curtain.
- Never read in bed by candle or lamp light.
- Do not leave a burning candle unattended.
IN CASE OF FIRE
Don’t Panic!
It is always easy to put out a fire at the start; even your mere impulse may sometimes be enough. If you know how, you can put out a fire with a rug, a heavy garment or a pail of water. It will be advantageous for us to learn the technique of putting out the different kinds of fire at its earliest stage, and to have available at all the various extinguishing agents. However, the best equipment in firefighting is calmness. We should not get excited and lose our mind. Call the Fire Department at once. Arrange for emergency escape of all occupants. After all, human lives are more precious.
DO NOT PANIC. Be calm. But act quickly.
When your frying pan burst into flame, cover the flame with any metal cover at hand to shut off the oxygen from the air. Do not pour water because it may spread the fire or even scald you.
If it just a small fire you can extinguish it using any of the following: a rug, a heavy garment, a pail of water or a fire extinguisher. The best is an “ABC” type fire extinguisher, so have one in the home.
If the fire starts in any electrical wire or device inside the house, cut off the current first whenever possible, at the switch or at the plug.
If the fire is beyond control, warn the family, and go to the nearest and safest exit. Don’t attempt anymore to salvage your belongings. You might get trapped inside the burning house. Your life is more precious than your things no matter how valuable they are.
Call for help immediately. Phone the fire department at once. Be sure to give the exact address.
If you manage to save some of your belongings, do not place them where they block the firemen’s passageway.
Do not jump from upper-story windows except as a last resort. Many people have jumped to their death even while firemen were bringing ladders to rescue them.
Take no chances of entering a burning building to save property. Only the saving of lives justifies taking a personal risk. Leave the ojob of fire fighting to firemen.
When injured or burned, immediately ask the assistance of Red Cross Volunteers nearby. Don’t forget to seek medical treatment afterwards.
GET OUT OF A BURNING BUILDING
It is always dangerous to remain in a burning building. Fires often spread rapidly and cut off escape and are likely to generate poisonous gases.
If you are trapped inside the burning building, do not open a door that feels warm. Superheated air might quickly kill you. Try to get out some other way.
Stuff clothes in the cracks under and around the door to keep out smoke and gases. Open the window, break it if necessary and shout for assistance.
When forced to remain in a smoke-filled building, remember that the air is usually better near the floor. So, try to crawl on the floor. If you must make a dash through smoke or flame, hold your breath.
If there is dense smoke but no flame, crawl and if possible, get a wet towel and wrap it around yourself. Cover your nose and mouth with damp cloth.
If there is a panic-rush for the main exit, keep out of the crowd and try to find some other means of escape. Above all, keep calm!
A temporary refuge may be secured behind any door. Even a thin, wooden door will temporarily stop smoke and hot gases and may not burn through for several minutes.
If you are cut off upstairs, make a rope out of bed clothes or clothing. You can use porch and garage roofs or trees to get out to the ground.
WHEN CLOTHES CATCH FIRE
- STOP. Do not run. Running fans the flame.
- DROP to the ground.
- ROLL over and over to put out the flame. Cover your face with your hands for protection.
- Bystanders can help by covering the victim with any heavy woolen cloth to smother the flame