'Emergency situations' by Georgia M. Koutsou-"How to stay safe"
- 2. NATURAL DISASTERS VERSUS MAN MADE DISASTERS ❖ Natural disasters: floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, landslides and hurricanes. ❖ Man made disasters: plane crashes, car accidents, train derailment, domestic fire, arson, oil spill, chemicals, bomb planting. 2
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- 6. 1. Don’t leave candles burning when you are not near 1. Have an electrician check your house wires, sockets, circuits etc annually 1. Don’t leave stoves burning when you leave home 1. Always be in the kitchen when something is cooking 1. If you light any kind of fire in or outside the house, do not go away, let kids play near it or overdo it 6
- 7. If you can ... 1. get out of the house 2. stay out 3. call the fire department from a neighbour’s house 7
- 8. If you are cut off from your escape route by the fire: ● If you are unable to use the door because of flames or smoke, close the door and use towels or bedding to block any gaps at the bottom of the door. This will help to prevent smoke and any fumes from spreading into the room. This should hold back the fire and smoke long enough for the fire service to arrive and rescue you. ● Make your way to the window. If the room becomes smoky, crawl along the floor where it will be easier to breathe because smoke rises. ● Open the window and attract the attention of others who can alert the fire service. ● If you are able to, stay by the window so firefighters can see you as soon as they arrive and can rescue you. ● If you are in immediate danger and your room is not above the first floor, drop cushions or bedding to the ground to break your fall from the window. If you can, get out feet first and lower yourself to the full length of your arms before dropping. 8
Editor's Notes
- #7: 6. All households should have at least one smoke alarm on each floor and preferably in every bedroom. New smoke alarms should be installed every 10 years—and if you don't know how old your smoke alarm is, you should get a new one. 7. Families should also plan and practice a home fire drill at least twice a year so that everyone in the house knows how to get outside fast in the case of a fire.