If your room catches a fire suddenly, what would be your first action?

@sharay (2769)
India
February 14, 2009 1:52pm CST
by giving your comments, you can be of some help to others by giving them a safety tip... for me, if its a lot of fire, i would try to call someone through the windows first, if no answer, would try to run away somehow
5 people like this
11 responses
@AntonO (119)
• Sweden
14 Feb 09
If it only would be a small fire I would go and get our fire extinguisher. If it would be a bit bigger fire I would also here go and get our fire extinguisher, epmty it over the fire, then call 911 and then run into the kitcheen and get a can, fill it with water and throw it over the fire and do this if possible until the fire trucks comes. Of course, I would use water if it would be a fire in something electrical or so. If so I would switch off the power in my whole home before I even used the fire extinguisher. So, a fire extinguisher is something which could save you and your home. So go and get one today!!!
2 people like this
@sharay (2769)
• India
14 Feb 09
a fire extinguisher is a very good option, but turning off the lights during that period of time seems more scarry
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
14 Feb 09
AntonO, I couldn't help but comment when I read your response and I do hope you will take what I say here to heart. I am no expert on fires although I did have a small one in my laundry room about thirteen years ago. So, consider what I say here, and by all means check with your local fire service to find out what you should do in case of fire. Having a fire extinguisher is a good idea but it all depends on what room the fire occurs in and how quickly you catch it before it gets out of control. If it occurs in the bedroom for instance, a fire extinguisher is probably not going to do any good unless you catch the fire as soon as it starts because of the materials...bed linens, clothes, etc...that can ignite and burn very fast. If you expect to use a fire extinguisher in the event of a fire, then be sure and get one for every room. If a fire breaks out in one room and you have to go to the other side of your house or apartment to grab the extinguisher the fire has had time to grow bigger thus rendering the extinguisher ineffective. Also, going to get water after you've emptied the extinguisher is also not a good idea unless you were able to put the fire out with the extinguisher and you just need the water to drown out any small embers that may still be present. The time it would take you to go fill up something with water to throw on the fire will have given it time to grow bigger thus also making the water ineffective. The same goes with turning off the electricity before you use water on an electrical fire. You're just not realistically going to have time to turn off the electricity before the fire has had time to grow bigger. That's why they make extinguishers with chemicals that are designed for use on electrical fires. There are times when a fire may be small enough and contained enough to give you time to get the extinguisher and put it out but usually this is not the case. I think your best option in most cases is to get out and call the fire department. Like I said before, talk to your local fire fighters and find out what you should do. Just use common sense and let saving your life take priority over saving your home and possessions.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
14 Feb 09
I would try to get us out of the door as quickly as possible.. Clothes or no clothes.. If the door is too hot, I will just try the windows.. I will bust it open if I have to.. I know that I will make sure that I try to grab my cell phone or purse so that I can call for help..
2 people like this
@sharay (2769)
• India
14 Feb 09
grabbing your cell phone for help is a good action, but at that point of time, would we have the presence of mind to call someone or just shout the hell out of us
1 person likes this
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
15 Feb 09
I will try the doors too while making a loud noise so that somebody hopefully will be aware of what is happening. If the way through the door is already blocked then I will try the windows. Of course I will try to stay alive and not be roasted.
1 person likes this
@ehlana88 (330)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Depends on the size of the fire. I keep a fire extinguisher between my bed and desk so there is always that if its easily contained. My house is built into the side of a mountain so if I had to leave quickly and was blocked from the doorway of my bedroom, I would go out the window. It's fairly easy to do (enter memories of sneaking in while a teen) and is only about a 7 foot drop to the ground. Still can be painful but not as bad as most people have it. If the fire was in the house somewhere I could walk out my bedroom door, (cell in hand because I always have it on me) and right out the side door of the house since they are only like 10 feet apart. I would definitely call emergency services once out. We live in a rural, secluded property so I'm sure it would take time. However even in winter we would be warm because their is a cabin at the end of the property well away from the main house with a fireplace and running water. What I would save is my pets and my family.
@sharay (2769)
• India
14 Feb 09
So...you got be extra careful!
1 person likes this
@dogsnme (1264)
• United States
14 Feb 09
As I commented to one of the other responses to this topic the best option in most all cases of fire is to do whatever you can to get out and call the fire department. Don't try to put the fire out yourself unless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can. Even then I question the wisdom behind taking on the fire yourself. I had a fire in my laundry room about thirteen years ago. Although, I never felt immediately threatened due to the fact that the door was closed keeping it at least momentarily contained, I never tried to fight it myself. I got out the front door, grabbing the phone on the way and called the fire department. As a result, I'm still here and so is my house. I just encourage everyone reading this to use common sense in the event of a fire. Get out and save your life. It's more important than your home or possessions.
1 person likes this
@sharay (2769)
• India
16 Feb 09
yes...very true, thats why even i mentioned above if it would be possible or even important to get the album out of fire
• United States
15 Feb 09
Just get out the door, fast, unless it was a small fire, and I had a fire extinguisher available.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
14 Feb 09
First of all the most important thing is to make sure everyone is out of the house and nice and safe. Then call the emergency services. Then if it was not too dangerous I would try to save the photograph album as some memories and pictures can never be replaced.
2 people like this
@sharay (2769)
• India
14 Feb 09
great to know that you would want to save the album, but when in the real circumstance, i doubt if we could really concentrate on it
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Feb 09
I would try to get out if I still can. If the door is still okay, I would choose to go myself in that way than calling someone outside for help.
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• Philippines
14 Feb 09
first, i have to get everyone to safety and if there is still time i will also get my treasured personal belongings...
1 person likes this
@MythiliK (138)
• Switzerland
14 Feb 09
I'll first grab my little son (20+months) and then scream as much as possible, so that some one will hear to help me as well as any one else near by will be alarmed :-)
1 person likes this
@megaalgos (192)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Well my first action would probably be to get out some way, then call the fire department. Then hope my computer wouldn't have burnt, but it would probably so I would be mad at myself. I would want to know the reason the fire started too.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
15 Feb 09
Run outside with my wallet and a rosary. That's all I'm going to do. A wallet for eating and a Rosary for meaning. Wallet to make me live and a Rosary to give me a reason to live.
1 person likes this