|
How to
escape a housefi re
Over
the past months we’ve talked generally about home escape plans but have not
gone into great detail.
Over the next few weeks I would like to expand on this topic.
I strongly believe that being prepared and knowing how to react in a
time of crisis greatly increases your chances of survival.
Today let’s talk about what it feels like inside a burning house and
what we should do to survive. I promise you it’s nothing like the movies
portray.
Have you wondered how you would react if your smoke detectors wake you
in the night to a house that’s quickly filling with smoke and fire? Do you
have an escape plan that has been practiced and will be followed by the
family, or will panic replace rational thought and
escape will depend entirely on blind luck?
How you react in the first minutes could mean the difference between
life and death. In reality you may have only one or two minutes before being
overcome by smoke.
Anytime you see someone escaping from a fire on television, the smoke
appears to be like fog that you can see through and easily escape from.
Nothing is further from the truth. The smoke will be thick and dark,
completely eliminating your ability to see. You will quickly become lost and
disoriented. You will not be able to breath the smoke because it’s full of
poisonous gases, lacks oxygen and could be super-heated, which will damage
your lungs.
Heat rises, so temperatures will quickly elevate near the ceiling.
Temperatures increase approximately 100 degrees every foot.
If temperatures 2 feet off the ground are 100 degrees then
temperatures at 7 feet will be close to 600 degrees, which no one can survive
without protection.
When escaping you need to crawl on your hands and knees. This will
help you avoid the high temperatures and hopefully you can find breathable
air under the rising smoke and gases.
Try to avoid being on your belly with your mouth next to the floor.
Some gases are heavier than air and may settle to the floor.
If you ever have to escape from a fire by crawling through smoke, it
will be one of the most dangerous and scariest situations you will ever face.
When possible, you should take an alternate route that will be safer.
Hopefully having a home escape plan will help you avoid panic, and you
will find your way to safety if you ever experience the tragedy of a house
fire.
24/7/365: You call; we respond.
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department. He can be contacted at kenneth.knight@highpointnc.gov.
|
|
