It was fire safety week in our school last week. We were taught about fire safety and performed various drills to keep ourselves and others safe in case there is an emergency. Our teacher said all of us must learn about the dangers of fire and how to respond when there is a fire outbreak.

We learnt a lot of things and I would love to share them with you.

Prevention

Prevention is the best way to prevent fire hazards. We must get the electric outlets, electric appliances and other things that might lead to fire hazards inspected at least twice every year. All malfunctioning appliances must be repaired without delay to prevent fire hazards. We must also have fire extinguishers installed in every room, especially in the kitchen, garage, and near a fireplace; so that we can take control of small fires and put them off quickly. The room heaters must be kept away from paper and curtains.

Respond to the Alarm

Most schools, office spaces and houses have smoke alarms installed inside them. The smoke alarms start ringing as soon as they detect fire; so the first thing that we need to do is to get out of our houses, classrooms or office spaces to protect ourselves from fire. Next the fire department must be informed as soon as possible.

We must never hide under the bed, chairs, tables, or behind furniture when there is a fire outbreak. We must look for the nearest exit and get out of the space immediately. We must also cooperate with the fire extinguisher personnel without fear. They are helpful people and would help us even if they have to put their lives in danger.

Fire Safety Drill

We did some fire safety drills to understand what to do if there is a fire outbreak in school. Our teacher got the floor plan of our school and pointed out the exit ways from each class. We also decided a outside meeting place where all the children would gather once out of their classes. Our teacher told us we should not rush or push each other when evacuating the classrooms since it can cause further confusion and make the situation worse. We must walk quickly but without pushing anybody. Our teacher said if the exit passage is smoky, then we must get down low or crawl under the smoke, so that we can breathe some clean air. In case the clothes catch fire, then we must stop, drop and roll to put the fire off.

One of our school staffs rang the fire bell and we all started evacuating the classrooms to practice how to respond during a fire outbreak. All of us quickly came out of our class and started moving towards the main exit and then to the location where we were instructed to gather.

The same things should be followed if there is fire in your house or office. It is essential that you respond quickly and wisely to keep yourself and others safe in case of fire.