If You Can't Escape
If you are Caught in burning building
- Get everyone into one room, preferably one with a window that opens and that has a phone in it. Close the door and wait to be rescued.
- Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap, to prevent smoke and fumes from getting into the room.
- Open the window and stay near it for fresh air, and to alert firefighters when they arrive.
- If you have a phone, call 911. If you don’t have a phone, shout for help so that someone else can phone for you.
In High Rise Apartment or Offices
- Highrise apartments are built to be fireproof and walls, ceilings and doors will hold back flames and smoke. If there's a fire elsewhere in the building you're usually safer staying in your flat unless heat or smoke is affecting you.
- If you feel in serious danger, wave a sheet out of the window so that firefighters know you're there.
- If the fire is outside your apartment, seal your front door with tape if you can, as well as using towels or bedding. Close any ventilators. Call 911, giving the number of your flat. If your front door becomes hot, wet it down.
If your clothes catch fire
- Don’t run around – you’ll fan the flames and make them burn faster.
- Lie down and roll around to smother the flames
- Smother the flames with heavy material like a coat, blanket or fire blanket.