Fire Safety Tips
Travel Safe
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been tracking data for fires and fire loss both in dollar values and human life for many years. Did you know that most of the single major loss fires where the loss to human life was the greatest occurred in hotels or motels?
In 1999, 25 civilian deaths and 375 civilian injuries were recorded due to fires in hotel/motel occupancies. It is anticipated that the year 2000 figures will show a slight increase in both deaths and injuries. Why do these deaths and injuries occur? There are three factors to consider in answering that question.
The human element factor - Includes you, your family, the hotel/motel staff, other guest's and the emergency responder actions to a fire emergency. You can control your attitude and response to a situation, but you cannot control the action of others. Panic is a big player in this factor.
The engineered systems factor - Includes the country of origin for the hotel/motel, the design parameters used, the construction means, the use of model fire and building codes in it's design, the addition of redundant safety systems. You obviously cannot control this, but you can be aware that some things that aid in protecting you from fire or smoke are not present and you can prepare yourself.The lack of proper fire stopping and smoke detection are the biggest concerns in this factor. Remember smoke is your worst enemy in a fire.
The maintenance and upkeep factor - Includes the testing, maintenance, remodel and repair of elevator systems, automatic fire doors, sprinkler systems, smoke detection systems, smoke evacuations systems, fire alarms, fire resistive construction and emergency action plans for the hotel/motel staff. This is another factor you can't control but you can ask the question about emergency action plans for fire or other emergencies.
Here are some hints to help you
Bring your own battery operated smoke detector.
Bring a smoke evacuation hood for each family member. These devices can be expensive but will offer you some additional time and a peace of mind.
From your room, walk all exit paths that lead you to the exterior of the building. First turn right from your room and stay close to the wall. Now count the steps to the first exit door or corridor you come to. Do not include elevators or elevator lobbies. Continue your count and note the number of stairs to each landing, the turns and the number of landings or flights you need to go down to the exterior exit. Do the same thing over but take a left from your room. This information will help guide you to a safe exit when the path is full of smoke and signs are not readily visible. Note if floor mounted exit signs or pathway lighting are installed - this will help you considerably. If one exit way from your room is hazardous, use the other. Never proceed up a stairway in an emergency...always proceed down.
At night leave your clothes and shoes as well as room key readily accessible and in the same location every night. If you have to leave in the middle of the night because of an emergency you are better prepared to deal with more situations and you can get back into your room when the emergency is over.
Mentally prepare yourself - the signal to evacuate may be a phone call, a fire alarm or someone pounding on your door at night.
NEVER USE THE ELEVATORS in an emergency. You may find yourself trapped between floors when the power fails or accidentally let out of the elevator on the floor where a fire is occurring. Use the stairs and walk - DO NOT RUN. Keep a tight grip on the handrail in case someone is running and bumps into you.
When reporting an emergency, speed and providing the correct information is essential to getting help en-route. Bypass the reception or front desk for reporting a fire and or follow emergency reporting instruction posted near your phone. By calling the front desk valuable time will be lost.
Every door your going to go through must first be checked to make certain that the space behind that door is safe. Use the back of your bare hand and place it on the door at mid height of the door. If you can leave your hand on the door and it's not hot, then try the door knob carefully. If the door is hot to the touch then the door knob will be blistering. Try another route. After you have gone through the door, close it behind you. This will prevent the spread of smoke, gases, heat or fire into other areas.
If you encounter a layer of smoke in a stairwell that was clear of smoke on upper floors, turn around and go back up to the floor you left and try an alternate route. Smoke that does this is called 'staking' and is a cooled down layer of what was once supper heated smoke and gases. To proceed through this smoke layer will ensure your demise.
DON'T PANIC! Remember you've checked on the emergency procedures and understand them, you have walked your evacuation routes from your room, your portable smoke detector alerted you of a potential fire well in advance of anyone or system, you have your smoke hood on or are on the floor low where the air is better and are crawling to your exit, you know to check a door for heat before opening it and to close it once you've passed through it.
You are better prepared to survive than most so concentrate on saving yourself and your family.
