Council and democracy

Make Your Plan - Get Out Alive

Try and imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake in the middle of the night and you find a fire has taken hold of your home. The house is in complete darkness. Thick black smoke has filled your landing. You can’t breathe properly. You can’t find your way out, and you can’t find your way to the kids’ bedroom.

If there is a fire in your home, it will be much easier for you to escape if you have already thought about the best way to get out.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service urges all householders to work out an escape route, making sure that it is always kept clear of obstructions such as toys, or anything else that could block the way out in an emergency.

So, if a fire were to start in your home.... what should you do?

• You should raise the alarm immediately
• Get out and get others out too, if you can. But don’t risk your own life!
• Get the Fire Brigade out. Go to the nearest telephone outside your house, dial 999 (remember the nearest telephone might be a neighbour’s, or it could be a phone box)
• Stay out. Do not go back inside for anything. Your life is much more precious than your belongings

Firefighters advise that smoke detectors should be fitted and installed correctly in every home. These should give occupants sufficient warning to rouse people to possible danger and enable an escape from fire.

If you do become trapped, you should close the door between you and the fire, seal the door as much as possible with sheets, clothing or towels and attempt to raise the alarm.

Develop a safety routine

Try getting the household to develop a routine last thing at night. It could be combined with a security check; i.e. ensuring that all doors are locked and that windows are shut.

The routine should also involve shutting all internal doors downstairs - such as to the sitting room - putting fire guards in place, switching off all electrical appliances that do not need to be left on and ensuring that ashtrays are emptied into a metal container.

And lastly, before going to bed, take a moment to think.... is our planned escape route clear?

Make sure everybody understands what to do

• Make sure everyone knows where you keep keys. Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept, and always keep them there. Everyone in your household should know their location.
• Make sure everyone knows what to do. Go through all the points about what to do in a fire. Everyone should know the do's and don'ts.
• Put your address by the phone so children can read it out to the emergency services.
• Put a reminder of what to do in a fire somewhere prominent, like on the door of the fridge.
• Tell everyone about any fire equipment you have. If you have fire extinguishers or fire blankets, make sure all adults know where they are, and how to use them safely.
• Extinguishers and blankets should only be used on a small, easily containable fire. The priority is always to keep people safe. Things can be replaced...people can't!
• Practise your plan. Take a few minutes to "walk through" the plan with everyone in the household. Regularly remind everyone of what to do and what not to do in a fire.

A full fire safety plan covers more than just what to do if the worst happens. It covers prevention and detection too.

Want more advice?

Then call our fire safety experts on either Stevenage 01438-737399, or Watford 01923 471399.

Alternatively check the national fire safety campaign Fire Kills website for further advice.