How to Evacuate in Case of Fire

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Denver, CO – When it comes to fires and fire safety, one can never be too cautious. In the United States alone, there were more than 3300 fire-related deaths in 2015, the most recent year for which data is available. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by following certain safety measures, including safe evacuation.

How to Safely Evacuate During a Fire

While no one necessarily expects a fire to occur, it’s always a good idea to be ready. Should it be necessary to evacuate a building during a dangerous blaze, here are some ways to do so safely:

• Use the stairs. Elevators should never be used in the event of a fire; the stairs provide the safest way to exit a building during a fire.
• Walk. Running promotes panic and disorganization; it’s always best to walk to an exit. If others are running, it can be helpful to encourage them to walk.
• Have meet-up spot. In a large business, it is especially important that new employees and/or clients know where to go if an evacuation occurs.
• Plan ahead. Just because one fire is over doesn’t mean there can’t or won’t be more. It’s good to review the building’s fire safety plan, ensure that it’s up-to-date, and that it adequately addresses all safety needs. Identifying potential fire hazards can also help companies better prepare for future events.

Have a Plan

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has a fire evacuation plan established for all businesses with 10 or more employees; individuals can also create their own for home use. Some components of a good fire plan include:

• Having a floor plan with clearly marked emergency exits and evacuation routes
• Designating a spot for all evacuees to meet
• Ensuring that there are functional automatic fire alarm systems in place
• Establishing a policy for reporting a fire: Who notifies whom and how
• Making sure there are enough fire extinguishers for each area of the building, and that staff members are properly trained to use them
• [If necessary,] determining who will remain if critical equipment still needs to be operated
• Delegating various roles to involved professionals to fully prepare for a fire.
• Planning and evaluating regular fire drills

All of these preparations can ensure that buildings remain fire-safe. A major catastrophe can be avoided by following the above procedures, and ensuring that businesses have up-to-code fire suppression systems. Furthermore, procuring high-quality, reliable service is essential when it comes to keeping buildings safe and fire-free.

If you’re concerned about fire safety and would like to ensure you have adequate fire protection, please contact us via email. You can also call us at (800) 750-7313 to discuss all your fire safety needs.

About us: Now serving patrons in Colorado, we at Nationwide Fire Protection pride ourselves on providing industry-leading protection when it comes to fire safety and fire codes. We are fully bonded and insured, licensed in the areas of fire protection contracting, as well as the mechanical and electrical fields.

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