Fire Survival Guide

In the United States in 2008, there were 1,451,500 reported fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Deaths totaled 3,320, with injuries such as smoke inhalation and burns totaling 16,705. Fires occur in a number of locations, such as houses, hotels and forests. With each type of fire, it is important to know some tips on surviving in order to avoid becoming a fire casualty.

Escape Routes

• When a fire occurs, an escape plan may be the key to surviving, especially at home. The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council recommends having a floor plan drawn of your home and marking the plan with two escape routes for each room in the house. Practicing these escape routes with family and memorizing them will help your chances of survival if a fire ever starts in your home. If a fire occurs, use the planned escape routes in order to get out. If the route is blocked, aim for the alternative route.

Survival Tips

• Smoke presents a dangerous obstacle when trying to survive a fire. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recommends crawling in the event of a fire. Smoke and hot air both rise, and crawling decreases the chances of inhaling smoke. Once you reach a door, check to see if the door, doorknob and crack between the door and door frame are hot using the back of your hand; using your palm could prevent you from escaping properly if the door turns out to be hot.

  If the door is cool, make sure your escape route is unblocked first, then crawl quickly for it, taking care to shut the door behind you. If the route is blocked, choose a different route such as the window. Hot doors mean that the fire is nearby and the door should not be opened; in this case, either escape through the window or, if the window is blocked, hang a white or light-colored sheet out of the window to alert firefighters that you are inside. Stay low to the ground and wait for assistance. If your clothing catches on fire, use the stop, drop and roll method to extinguish the flames.

Survival Tools

• Some tools are needed beforehand in order to survive a fire. Homes should be outfitted with a smoke and fire alarm. These alarms alert residents to the presence of a fire, giving them more time to escape in the event of a fire. FEMA suggests checking electrical wiring within a home and having proper chimney insulation. Sleeping with doors closed will help with fire survival as well, as doors help keep fire out of a room. Homes should have fire extinguishers on hand, and those living in the home should know how to use them.

Forest Fires

• Forest fires require a different survival method, since they are within larger open areas. The website Survival Topics notes that forest fires travel faster than humans can run, so proper survival tactics are key. Try to access the road or a stream to escape. Since fires travel faster uphill, heading downhill could increase your chances of survival. Find an area with relatively little burnable vegetation, like bodies of water, rocky areas or roads. Stay low to the ground, since flames and smoke rise. Then, travel upwind to escape.

Hotel Fires

• Hotel fires catch many people off-guard, according to the HVAC Building Control Fire Safety website. Similar to house fires, hotel fire survival requires knowing proper exits and having a plan in place. Check the floor plan for the hotel when you arrive in your room and make note of the exits. Make sure your hotel room key is in a place that is easily accessible in case a fire happens when you're sleeping. If the fire alarm sounds, test the door with the back of your hand for heat. If there is heat, leave the door closed and begin putting wet towels under the door. If the door isn't hot, escape as planned, keeping low to the ground.