How to Decide if It Is Safe to Escape During a Fire

If you're caught in a fire, there are a few safety tips to be familiar with in order to escape safely. Read the following steps; they could save your life in the event of a fire.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Bath Towels
• Bedsheets
• Fire Ladders
• Smoke Detectors
• Cold Water
• Fireproof Safes
• Fire Extinguishers
• Combination Smoke/carbon Monoxide Detectors

1. Locate two escape routes wherever you are, quickly.
2. Check for heat on a door before opening it by placing the back of your hand on the door and going from bottom to top. Then place the back of your hand on the doorknob (metal conducts heat better than wood - if there's any heat outside the door, you should be able to feel it).
3. If you don't feel heat, crack open the door, staying low, and check for smoke. If smoke is present, use another way out.
4. Avoid opening the door if it's hot to the touch. Instead, stuff towels, sheets or clothes in the door cracks and vents to prevent smoke from entering. Wet the items first if possible.
5. Locate your other escape route if you decide the door cannot be opened. If it's another door, repeat the above steps before attempting to open it. If it's a window that you can escape from easily, get out and go to a neighboring home or building and call 911.
6. Find a brightly colored piece of clothing or other material, open the window a crack and wave the item from the window, if the window is too high to escape from - this will alert others to your location.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide it's safe to leave, get down on your knees and crawl to your escape. Smoke rises, so staying low is imperative.
• If you have a phone handy and feel that you're trapped in the fire, call 911 immediately and tell the dispatcher your location.
• Keep yourself low to the ground to avoid excess smoke inhalation.
• Never go back into the building once you've escaped from the fire.