If you are trapped by fire

 

House Fire - If you are trapped by fire....

The common time for families to be caught in a fire situation is during the night. A good night time routine may help keep any escape route clear and a smoke alarm will give you an early warning of fire. However, if you are trapped by fire consider the following advice.

• Get everyone into one room and close the door
• Smoke and fumes can kill people quickly, so put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap
• Open the window and stay near it for fresh air and let the Firefighters see you
• Shout for help so someone can call for the Fire and Rescue Service
• If you are on a ground or first floor, you may be able to escape from a window
• If you have to break the window, cover the jagged glass with towels or thick bedding
• Throw some more bedding out of the window to break your fall
• Don't jump out of the window - lower yourself down to arm's length and drop to the ground
• If you have any children or elderly or disabled people with you, plan the order you will escape in so that you can help them down
• Don't stop or go back in to the building for any reason

 

What to do if you live in a high-rise flat....

If a fire starts in your flat or the stairwell and you can't get out:

• get everyone into a room with a window - put cushions, bedding, or clothes around the bottom of the door to block smoke
• open the window - if you feel in serious danger, wave a sheet out of the window so the firefighters know you're there
• if the fire is directly outside your flat, seal your front door with tape, bedding or clothes, close any ventilators and phone 999
• if your front door becomes hot, wet it down
• Call 999

When you speak to the operator:

• give your whole address, including the town
• tell them what is on fire, for example 'a two-storey house'
• explain if anyone is trapped and what room they're in - give as much information as you can so they can help you
• Don't go back in
• You should find somewhere safe to wait near the building.

If there's someone still inside, wait for the Fire and Rescue Service to arrive.

You can tell them about the person and they will be able to find them quicker than you.

If you go back into the building, you will slow down the firefighters' efforts to rescue anyone else missing - and put your own life in danger.