VACATION
SAFETY
If you're planning a vacation and your home will be
empty, you can go away with a freer mind and less
worry if you check your home before leaving. Check to
make sure that all stoves and electrical appliances have
been turned off or disconnected. Unplug all television
sets and radios. Lightning storms or sudden electrical
surges could cause a fire in this equipment while you're
away. When you return from your vacation, check your
smoke detector to make sure it is functioning. Batteries
could run down or other components could fail while
you're away.
When you are traveling away from home and staying in a
motel or hotel, it is important to know survival actions in
case there is a fire. Many significant fires have occurred
in high rise hotels such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
and the hotel fire in Panama.
Select a hotel or motel that, at a minimum, has a smoke
detector installed. It is preferable to select lodging that
also has fire sprinkler systems in place. If you must stay
in a facility without smoke detectors or sprinklers,
request a room on the first or second floor.
When you first get in your room, read the fire safety
information provided. It is usually posted near or on the
back of the entry door. Just like in your home, you need
to plan your escape ahead of time. Locate the two exits
nearest your room. Make sure the fire exit doors work
and are unlocked. Locate the nearest fire alarm and read
the operating instructions. In a real fire, the hallway may
become dark with smoke so count the number of doors
from your room to each exit. This way you will know
where you are in case you get caught in a dark hallway.
Keep your room key and a flashlight near the bed.
If you hear the fire alarm sound, or suspect a fire in the
hotel, investigate, don't go back to sleep. If you see fire
or smoke, call the hotel desk and the fire department
immediately. Tell the person who answers the phone
what room you are in.
If you hear the fire alarm, check the door with the back
of your hand. If it is cool, slowly open the door and exit.
If the door is hot or warm, leave it closed and stay in the
room. Fill the bathtub with water. Place wet towels or
sheets into cracks around the door to keep smoke out.
Call the fire department and tell them you are trapped in
your room, and give them the room number.
If the door is not hot and the hallway is not smoky, go to
the closest fire exit. Be sure to take your room key with
you. You might have to return to your room and want to
be sure you can get back in. Crawl low under smoke
down the hallway to the fire exit. Use a wet cloth over
your nose and mouth. As you exit, pull the nearest fire
alarm to warn other occupants, then leave the building. If
you cannot go down, try to go up to the roof. Attract
attention so they will know where you are.
If a fire starts in your room, leave immediately and close
the door behind you to confine the fire and smoke to the
room. Activate the fire alarm and call the fire department
once you are safely out of danger.
Never use an elevator under fire conditions. Always take
the stairs when exiting from a high-rise building.
Elevators can malfunction. Many are heat-activated and
have been known to stop directly at the fire floor.
SAFETY
If you're planning a vacation and your home will be
empty, you can go away with a freer mind and less
worry if you check your home before leaving. Check to
make sure that all stoves and electrical appliances have
been turned off or disconnected. Unplug all television
sets and radios. Lightning storms or sudden electrical
surges could cause a fire in this equipment while you're
away. When you return from your vacation, check your
smoke detector to make sure it is functioning. Batteries
could run down or other components could fail while
you're away.
When you are traveling away from home and staying in a
motel or hotel, it is important to know survival actions in
case there is a fire. Many significant fires have occurred
in high rise hotels such as the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
and the hotel fire in Panama.
Select a hotel or motel that, at a minimum, has a smoke
detector installed. It is preferable to select lodging that
also has fire sprinkler systems in place. If you must stay
in a facility without smoke detectors or sprinklers,
request a room on the first or second floor.
When you first get in your room, read the fire safety
information provided. It is usually posted near or on the
back of the entry door. Just like in your home, you need
to plan your escape ahead of time. Locate the two exits
nearest your room. Make sure the fire exit doors work
and are unlocked. Locate the nearest fire alarm and read
the operating instructions. In a real fire, the hallway may
become dark with smoke so count the number of doors
from your room to each exit. This way you will know
where you are in case you get caught in a dark hallway.
Keep your room key and a flashlight near the bed.
If you hear the fire alarm sound, or suspect a fire in the
hotel, investigate, don't go back to sleep. If you see fire
or smoke, call the hotel desk and the fire department
immediately. Tell the person who answers the phone
what room you are in.
If you hear the fire alarm, check the door with the back
of your hand. If it is cool, slowly open the door and exit.
If the door is hot or warm, leave it closed and stay in the
room. Fill the bathtub with water. Place wet towels or
sheets into cracks around the door to keep smoke out.
Call the fire department and tell them you are trapped in
your room, and give them the room number.
If the door is not hot and the hallway is not smoky, go to
the closest fire exit. Be sure to take your room key with
you. You might have to return to your room and want to
be sure you can get back in. Crawl low under smoke
down the hallway to the fire exit. Use a wet cloth over
your nose and mouth. As you exit, pull the nearest fire
alarm to warn other occupants, then leave the building. If
you cannot go down, try to go up to the roof. Attract
attention so they will know where you are.
If a fire starts in your room, leave immediately and close
the door behind you to confine the fire and smoke to the
room. Activate the fire alarm and call the fire department
once you are safely out of danger.
Never use an elevator under fire conditions. Always take
the stairs when exiting from a high-rise building.
Elevators can malfunction. Many are heat-activated and
have been known to stop directly at the fire floor.