24/7 Emergency Service11 Fire Safety Guidelines
8/24/2016 (Permalink)
Never fight a large fire. Call in the professionals.
No matter how safe we may feel, fire may strike at any time. Knowing these general guidelines can help keep your family, your business employees, and you safe in case a fire does occur.
- Remain calm.
Pace yourself. You may be in charge of other people. Listen carefully to what people tell you and deal patiently with urgent situations first.
- Check doors for heat.
In a fire before you go through a door feel it with the back of your hand. Feel it from the bottom to the top. Do not open a hot door. Doing so puts you at risk of being burned and adding fuel (oxygen) to the fire.
- Stay low.
Smoke and heated gases rise. The lower you are the less likely you are to inhale smoke or dangerous gases.
- Keep a safe distance.
If you decide to use a fire extinguisher to fight the fire remember that the extinguisher’s reach is probably 8 to 12 feet. Stay as far away from the fire as you can.
- Use a fire extinguisher properly. Follow the PASS method.
P: Pull the pin and hold the fire extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.
A: Aim low. Point the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire.
S: Squeeze the level slowly and evenly.
S: Sweep the nozzle from side to side.
- Only use a fire extinguisher if these four conditions are true.
Many times you’re much better off to let fire cleanup professionals handle any fire. Only use an extinguisher when: 1) the fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing; 2) the room is not filled with smoke; 3) everyone else has exited the building, and 4) the fire department has been called.
Concerned about a fire risk or fire damage? Call (860) 216-2785.
- Never fight a large fire.
You’re always best off leaving the fighting of a large fire to professionals. One general rule of thumb is that if the fire is bigger than you are it’s too big for you to put out safely.
- Face the fire.
Don’t turn your back on a fire. Conditions can quickly change. You need to be constantly aware of the fire’s size, condition, and position.
- Observe the smoke.
More turbulent smoke means more dangerous fire conditions. Is smoke pushing out of the top of a door? Then do not enter. Does the area contain significant amounts of smoke? Then the fire probably exceeds your ability to handle it. Call the professionals.
- Have a designated meeting place.
Your family or employees should have a specific place well away from your home or business that you will meet at in case of a fire. Knowing where to meet and having two or more ways to get there reduces the risk of leaving someone behind or not knowing where everyone is if you evacuate your home or building.
- If you can’t escape the building stay in a fire-free, smoke-free room with the doors closed.
If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
- Check for injuries and have them treated.
Immediately after the fire have any injuries treated by a medical professional. Wash small wounds with soap and water. To help prevent infection of small wounds, use bandages and replace them if they become soiled, damaged, or waterlogged.
Help With Fires Is Here
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime, 24/7.
We've served clients in Avon, Agawam, Bloomfield, Coventry, East Hartford, East Longmeadow, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, Manchester, Newington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Springfield, West Hartford, and beyond.
SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24 hour emergency service