Where should you run if a fire breaks out in a closed space?
Fire safety, fire escape, building fire, enclosed space fire, smoke inhalation, emergency exit, fire survival, fire safety tips. A fire inside a closed space can spread quickly. Knowing where to go and what to avoid can make all the difference.
A fire inside a pub, restaurant, cinema, shopping mall or office can become life-threatening within minutes. While many people believe flames are the biggest danger, fire safety experts say smoke inhalation is often the leading cause of deaths in indoor fires.
Thick smoke can reduce visibility, release toxic gases and make people lose consciousness before they reach an exit.
Knowing what to do in the first few moments of a building fire can improve your chances of getting out safely.
Here are the basic fire safety tips everyone should know before an emergency happens.
HEAD FOR THE NEAREST SAFE EXIT
If a fire breaks out, leave the building immediately through the nearest safe exit. Do not assume the main entrance is the only way out.
Emergency exits are designed to help people leave quickly and may be closer than the door you used to enter.
Avoid following a crowd if another safe exit is available.
STAY LOW IF THERE IS SMOKE
Smoke rises, leaving cleaner air closer to the floor. If smoke starts filling the room or hallway, get as low as possible and crawl towards the nearest safe exit.
This simple step can reduce the amount of toxic smoke you breathe.
DO NOT DELAY YOUR ESCAPE
Many people lose valuable time by collecting bags, phones or other belongings. Fire safety experts recommend leaving immediately instead of trying to save personal items.
Even a delay of a few seconds can make escaping more difficult.
NEVER USE A LIFT
Use the stairs if you need to move between floors. Lifts can stop working during a fire or open on a floor where smoke or flames are present.
IF AN EXIT IS BLOCKED
Do not force your way through flames or thick smoke. Look for another safe exit if one is available.
If you cannot leave the building, move into a room with a window if possible, close the door and block gaps underneath with cloth to slow down smoke entering. Call emergency services and signal for help from the window.
ALSO READ: Fire, toxic smoke, blocked exits: How Bangkok pub turned into a death trap
PLAN BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
Whenever you enter a crowded indoor venue, take a few seconds to notice where the emergency exits are. This small habit can save valuable time if an emergency occurs.
In a fire, people often panic or instinctively head back towards the entrance they used. Knowing where the nearest safe exit is before anything goes wrong can help you react faster and make better decisions.
A fire inside a pub, restaurant, cinema, shopping mall or office can become life-threatening within minutes. While many people believe flames are the biggest danger, fire safety experts say smoke inhalation is often the leading cause of deaths in indoor fires.
Thick smoke can reduce visibility, release toxic gases and make people lose consciousness before they reach an exit.
Knowing what to do in the first few moments of a building fire can improve your chances of getting out safely.
Here are the basic fire safety tips everyone should know before an emergency happens.
HEAD FOR THE NEAREST SAFE EXIT
If a fire breaks out, leave the building immediately through the nearest safe exit. Do not assume the main entrance is the only way out.
Emergency exits are designed to help people leave quickly and may be closer than the door you used to enter.
Avoid following a crowd if another safe exit is available.
STAY LOW IF THERE IS SMOKE
Smoke rises, leaving cleaner air closer to the floor. If smoke starts filling the room or hallway, get as low as possible and crawl towards the nearest safe exit.
This simple step can reduce the amount of toxic smoke you breathe.
DO NOT DELAY YOUR ESCAPE
Many people lose valuable time by collecting bags, phones or other belongings. Fire safety experts recommend leaving immediately instead of trying to save personal items.
Even a delay of a few seconds can make escaping more difficult.
NEVER USE A LIFT
Use the stairs if you need to move between floors. Lifts can stop working during a fire or open on a floor where smoke or flames are present.
IF AN EXIT IS BLOCKED
Do not force your way through flames or thick smoke. Look for another safe exit if one is available.
If you cannot leave the building, move into a room with a window if possible, close the door and block gaps underneath with cloth to slow down smoke entering. Call emergency services and signal for help from the window.
ALSO READ: Fire, toxic smoke, blocked exits: How Bangkok pub turned into a death trap
PLAN BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
Whenever you enter a crowded indoor venue, take a few seconds to notice where the emergency exits are. This small habit can save valuable time if an emergency occurs.
In a fire, people often panic or instinctively head back towards the entrance they used. Knowing where the nearest safe exit is before anything goes wrong can help you react faster and make better decisions.
