How to Be Safe From Fire in a Hotel or Motel

Knowing your fire exits and fire safety when on vacation is just as important as it is at home. When staying in new hotels and motels, the first thing you should do upon entering your room is take a few minutes to go over the fire exit plan.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Read and understand the fire safety information provided in your room as soon as you arrive. It's usually on the back of the entrance door to the hotel or motel room. If you have any questions, call the front desk.

2. Ask the people at the front desk what sound the fire alarm makes.

3. Locate another exit in your room other than the front door.

4. Try unlocking your front door in the dark, as well as finding it without the lights on.

5. Walk outside your room and find your closest emergency exit. Try it to make sure it works.

6. Find a fire alarm pull box close to your room.

7. Never take an elevator during a fire - always take the stairs.

8. Leave fire doors in the hallways closed. They can stop a fire from spreading.

Tips & Warnings

• If the fire alarm goes off during the night, crawl over to the door and check for heat before opening it.
• To check for heat, place the back of your hand on the door, starting at the bottom of the door, and work up it as high as possible. 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.
• If you don't feel heat, crack open the door and exit, staying low. Close all doors behind you as you go.
• If a smoke detector goes off, you literally have seconds to respond. There is absolutely no time to gather possessions. Your best response is to leave the hotel or motel immediately. Never go back into the hotel or motel once you've escaped from the fire.

[randym]

on 3/12/2009 If/when you enter the hallway, you may have limited visibility to the emergency exit signs due to smoke. When entering your room for the first time, it is a wise idea to count the number of doors between your room and the emergency exit so if you have to crawl with your eyes closed for any reason, you will know where the exit is.

[CabinGirlAnnie]

on 10/2/2007 This is pretty common sense stuff, but how many of us think to do it when we are on traveling on vacation? People who think of these things ahead of time are the ones who make it out safely.

on 1/2/2006 Keep all your necessary possessions within reach of your bed at night. This includes:
Driver's License and/or ID card and any other identification.
Cash, checkbook, or credit cards.
Any prescription medications.
Cellular phone or pager.
Eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Room key! Do not forget your room key! I was staying in a hotel on a band trip when the fire alarm went off at 4 AM. I was the only one of my roommates who thought to grab a room key. If it's a false alarm, you don't want to be locked out.
Shoes and/or sweatshirt. It can be chilly at night.
I place my shoes by the edge of my bed. When the alarm at my hotel went off, I was able to dump everything into my pocket, grab my shoes, and go. Remember, it's best to have it all within reach. You do not have time to be searching for it. If the situation is dire, just leave it behind. All that stuff can be replaced. You can't.