In case of fire: have two ways out Published Oct. 9, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Joseph Vlahovic and Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten 94th Airlift Wing DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- You are in your living room relaxing with the television on, watching football, while your children play with the fuzzy family pet. A little rough-housing ensues between them. Innocent enough, right? Unknown to you and your family, a cigarette is dumped into a wastebasket full of paper. The paper bursts into flame. From that time, you have 30 seconds before the flames from the paper ignite nearby furniture, or the carpet. At 64 the second mark, the room has begun to fill with smoke, making your eyes water and breathing extremely difficult. Approximately 30 seconds later, the temperature of the room is at an uncomfortable 190 degrees. Less than a minute after that, the temperature has gone far beyond uncomfortable to reach 400 degrees. In a total time of approximately three minutes, the temperature has reached the deadly mark of 500 degrees. Suddenly, your living room bursts into flame. The very place, just three minutes and 41 seconds ago you were relaxing, is on fire, filled with toxic smoke and the temperature in the room is now over 1400 degrees. Survival at this point is still possible, but likely, the primary exit is may be impassible. Having a secondary exit will significantly increase your chances of escape. Your ability to get out depends, largely, on advanced planning. Airmen are no stranger to this concept, as Dobbins Air Reserve Base's operational tempo increases and Airmen are deployed. Planning for your family is required for what the military may throw your way on-duty, unfortunately, planning for their safety off-duty can be overlooked. "Only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely," according to the National Fire Protection Association. As part of the National Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct 7-13 this year, the Dobbins ARB Fire Department offers several easy tips that anyone can apply in their home, or office to increase the likelihood that everyone will survive a fire. "People should be proactive about fire prevention and life safety," said Michael Hodgson, Dobbins ARB Fire Department assistant chief of fire prevention. "Their lives depend on it. Don't be reactive, it might be too late." First take steps to make sure you and your family are able to escape. Smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping area and on each floor of your home. Networked alarms ensure that if one alarm goes off, then all alarms will sound. Make sure all doors and windows open easily from the inside. Any door or window can serve as a viable escape route. Create an escape plan with two ways out of every room and discuss it with every member of your family, using illustrative floor plans and physically visiting each room to verify that your planned escapes will work. Make sure every member of your family knows where to meet once they do escape the house. Also be sure everyone knows the emergency phone number so that your local fire department can respond as quickly as possible. Practice every planned escape route with your entire family. Keep in mind, things look different in the dark. Practice as if an actual fire has occurred. Close doors as you make your way out to slow the progress of the fire and stay low, under the smoke. Be sure to include plans to assist young children, older adults, and anyone with a disability. Challenge yourself to make fire safety a priority for you and your family. Challenge yourself to make fire safety a priority for you and your family.
