As the temperature outside increases, so does the threat of fire. Most students know the basics of fire safety, but there’s a range of other tips and advice that could prove life-saving in an emergency situation.
As the temperature outside increases, so does the threat of fire. Most students know the basics of fire safety, but there’s a range of other tips and advice that could prove life-saving in an emergency situation.
A large percentage of the Bloomington population lives in apartment complexes and dormitories, and many of those do not have access to traditional fire escapes or stairwells. No matter what your situation is, it’s a great idea to invest in a secure rope ladder to make sure that you can escape safely in any fire situation.
Not sure what to go with? Safewise.com has advice on the most secure ladders to ensure a safe evacuation.
Safewise: A Guide To The Best Fire Escape Ladders
Image Source Pixabay
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind in a crisis, but putting on some shoes can greatly increase your safety when evacuating from a fire situation.
If you’re forced to walk through fire, or over hot flooring to escape, shoes massively increase your ability to do so safely. Extreme heat can also cause Glass to expand and shatter, and wearing shoes reduces your risk of being cut and injured. It’s a little thing, but it can be crucial to your safety in an evacuation scenario.
Image Source: High Speed Training
Many homes and apartments are equipped with fire extinguishers. Importantly, these should only be used for very small fires, if the fire is large, call 911 immediately and evacuate.
If you are in a situation where you need to use a fire extinguisher, you should know what type of fire extinguisher you have, and whether or not it is appropriate for the fire in front of you. Foam and Water extinguishers are the most common, but they may not be effective against different types of fires such as electrical fires.
The guide above is a good start, but for more information check out High Speed Training’s Fire Extinguisher Guide
It’s an incredibly common scenario, you’re doing a bit of cooking, and you need to go to the bathroom, or you hear your phone ring in the other room, or you remember your washing is done. Leaving stoves and ovens unattended is incredibly dangerous and is one of the leading causes of home fires.
In fact, according to the US Fire Administration, unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires in the US.
If you’ve got roommates, get them to watch the food for a while if you need to leave for a moment. Or, if you’re by yourself, simply turn everything off, the time you might waste re-lighting your stove is nothing compared to the potentially massive damage that can be caused by a house fire.
Image Source: Pixabay
It may seem simple, but a fire alarm is the most effective method of keeping yourself safe during a fire scenario.
According to Safety.com, roughly half of all home fire deaths occur at night, whilst people are sleeping.
There is simply no better safety system to keep you alive if a fire occurs at night than an effective smoke alarm. If you are living in a college residence hall, ask your center desk how often the batteries are changed in dormitory fire alarms, and if you live in a home or apartment, take the time yourself to check the batteries, and change them if need be. Safety.com recommends installing a fire alarm on at least every floor of your home, and in every bedroom.
Keep your eye out for danger and stay safe this summer season!