What to do when fire starts...

10/10/2019 (Permalink)

Home Fire Preparedness: There are actually ways you can prepare your home for a fire. Here a few tips:

1. Install the right number of smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each sleeping room.
2. Test your smoke alarms once a month. Change your batteries twice a year. We suggest changing them each time the time changes.
3. Have a fire extinguisher in your home, especially in your kitchen.
4. Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what that sound means.
5. Ensure all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
6. Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
7. Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell "FIRE" to alert everyone that they must get out. Maybe do this when you put new batteries in the smoke alarms.
8. Make sure everyone knows how to call 911.
9. Teach household members how to STOP, DROP, and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

What To Do if a Fire Starts:

1. Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher.
2. Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT, and CALL 911.
3. Yell "FIRE" several times and go outside right away. If you live in a building with elevators, use the stairs. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.
4. If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to touch.
5. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you.

Recovering After a Fire:

1. Call 911. Give first aid where needed; cool and cover burns to reduce the chance of further injury or infection.
2. Let friends and family know you are safe.
3. People and animals that are seriously injured or burned should be transported to professional medical or veterinary help immediately.
4. Stay out of fire-damaged home until local fire authorities say it is safe to re-enter.

SERVPRO of Desoto, Tate, & Tunica Counties can also help you get your home and belongings back together after a fire. Call us today at 662-349-6500.