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Trapped by Fire

If, when you get everyone together, you realise that you will be unable to leave by the quickest route, you will all have to go into one room. Close the door behind you and put something along the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in, clothes or sheets will do.

Remember:

Initially, plan to stay in the room, close the door, turn the lights on, block the bottom of the door and open the window and call for help by shouting FIRE! FIRE! to alert neighbours.

Open the window and shout FIRE! FIRE!.

By opening the window, as well being able to shout for help, you will let smoke out of the room and allow fresh air in.

The majority of bedroom doors are made from thin plywood or hardboard and have an "egg-box" type of filling inside, this common type of door will keep smoke and flames back for a short while, probably long enough for a rescue to be effected by the Fire Service.

You should remain in this room until the fire service arrives, do not jump from the window unless the conditions in the room are so bad that you have to leave. Turn on the lights in the room, you will be able to see better and you are much easier to see from outside.

Points to think about if you decide you HAVE to leave by the window because conditions in the room are so bad:

If you do have to leave the room by the window DO NOT JUMP, instead lower yourself to arms length from the window-sill and drop.
Do NOT attempt to throw a mattress out of the window, it will get stuck and you will not be able to get out, it will also be much harder for a firefighter to get in and rescue you.
Do not think of tying sheets together, the knots may slip and what will you tie it to? the radiator or the bed are not secure enough.
You could throw some clothes or bedding out of the window, especially if there is a hard surface below, to soften your landing.
If you have a baby or very small child in the room, put them inside a quilt cover and lower it at arms length to the ground.

When children are in the room with adults, the adults must NOT go first as the children will not follow, they will have to be lowered out of the window by the adult, remember to grasp children around their wrist, do not hold them by the hand, so that when you let go of them they have no option but to fall, if they can they will try to hang on to you.

When lowering yourself, children or babies in quilts, "gently" swing them to one side so that they do not all land in the same place, directly under the window, the last person out of the window will be an adult and they will need a clear place to land.

Only leave by the window as a last resort.

Highrise Escapes

If you live in a highrise building, you need to take extra safety precautions to ensure your escape in the event of fire.

Full information is provided on the "firekills" government web site.