Fires produce poisonous gases that cause disorientation and drowsiness.
How to Prepare for a Fire
- See Emergency Response Plan for general information
- Have working smoke alarms; make sure they are tested monthly
- Clean out storage areas; do not let trash accumulate
- Install fire extinguishers in your building
How to Respond to a Building Fire
- Treat every alarm as though it is a realy emergency; if the alarm sounds evacuate immediately
- If you or your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll
- If you are escaping through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the door before you open it and never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat
- Hot door: do not open
- Cool door: open slowly and make sure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route
- Never use an elevator to evacuate
- Crawl low under any smoke to your exit; heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling
- Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire
- Stay out once you are safely out
- Assemble at your meeting location
- Call 9-1-1