FIRE SAFETY TIPS (2)

HOW TO REACT TO A FIRE

Try as we might to prevent them, fires can happen in a flash. When they do break out, you need to know how to react.

Here are some suggestions:

• If you smell smoke or your smoke detectors sound, get your family out immediately. Call the fire department from a neighbor's house.
• Never reenter a burning house for any reason. Leave fire fighting to the professionals as soon as they're on the scene.
• Never use water on electric, oil, or grease fires. Turn off the heat immediately, and use a lid or a large piece of metal cookware to smother the flames.
• If you can't shut off the gas before fighting a gas fire, get out of the house immediately.
• If you can't remove the fuel from a wood, paper, or fabric fire, cut off its air by smothering the fire with a coat or heavy woolen blanket. You might also cool the fire with water or a fire extinguisher.
• Even if a fire is confined to a frying pan or wastebasket, never spend more than 30 seconds fighting the fire. Small fires can grow with frightening speed.
• If someone's clothes are on fire, douse the flames with water or use a heavy blanket to smother the fire.

If you follow the suggestions we've outlined in this article, your home will be a safer place. And if the unthinkable does happen - if a fire occurs - at least you'll be prepared.

Culled from HowStuffWorks.com