What to do if a fire breaks out in any
of these locations!
Death
by fire is probably one of the worst possible ways a human
being can die, not only for the victim, but for the surviving
family as well. A harsh statement indeed, especially in
light of the fire tragedy at The Station in West Warwick,
RI, an event now deemed the fourth worst fire in American
history.
The
point is, however, that it’s time we take off the
kid gloves and get real. Let not 100 souls die in vain.
Instead, let their sacrifice serve as a symbol to save
generations to come. And it’s up to us to make sure
that happens.
Most
of us never even think about fire or give it a second
thought. We worry about crossing the street and getting
hit by a bus. We teach our children never to talk to strangers.
We fear getting on airplanes in case of a terrorist attack.
But who ever considers the danger of fire when we enter
a hotel, a restaurant or nightclub, even a wedding banquet
hall?
 All
of these establishments are designed to hold dozens, if
not hundreds, of people to provide entertainment and pleasure.
The last thing on our minds is where the exit signs are
or planning an escape route. We innately trust the owners
to take care of these pesky little details so we can enjoy
our night out. Well, not anymore. It is the responsibility
of each and every one of us to take control of our own
destiny. What’s more, it’s our responsibility
as parents to begin adding to the long list of safety
tips we teach our children to identify exits everywhere
they go.
Take
control. There are many things we can do to honor the
people who lost their lives in Rhode Island and ensure
the prevention of future loss of life in such horrific
situations. In addition to teaching and training our young,
as adults we can do the following when patronizing any
establishment:
Hotels: Most reputable hotels provide brochures and TV monitors
that clearly describe what to do in case of a hotel fire.
Watch the TV promo or read the brochure as one of the
first things you do when you enter the room. Know where
the exits are. Check them out to make sure doors are not
locked and are easily accessible. Which is the closest
exit to your room? If that’s blocked what are your
other choices? What if you have to stay in your room?
Would you now what to do and not do? When that very loud,
earth shattering alarm goes off in the middle of the night
while you’re in a dead sleep, you need to act quickly,
not try to figure out what to do next.
Nightclubs: All nightclubs, whether they’re up to code or not,
are a hotbed for disaster. First you have a large crowd.
People are drinking and smoking. Couple that with an under
35 crowd at most clubs and almost anything can and will
happen at any time. Assume nothing especially that nothing
will happen. Check out where ALL the exits are, not just
one, and test them yourself. It will take only minutes,
minutes that could save your life when you have only minutes
to get out. Know where the windows are in case that ends
up being your only route of escape. And rethink your stay
if there’s no sprinkler system visible. No band is
worth your life.
Restaurants
and Banquet Halls: The same holds true here. Restaurants
deal with fire and gas kitchens. Anything could happen
-- from a fire to an explosion. Many exits could be blocked.
Know where ALL the exits are and which are closest to
where you are seated so you don’t find yourself in
a bottleneck situation in case of an emergency. If you’re
in the back of the restaurant, away from the front entrance,
what are you routes of escape? Are there visible fire
extinguishers on the walls? Remember, it’s the herd
mentality that takes over in a panic situation. You want
to be prepared, not one of the herd.
Airplanes
& Airports: The beauty of airplanes is that flight attendants point
out the exits and other safety features during the take
off process. Granted, they do have a seated, relatively
attentive audience, and if you do crash, it’s not
likely you’ll be using the exits anyway. But at least
the effort is made in case of a crash landing. Airports
have many exit routes but who really pays attention? Concourses
are long and narrow. In a panic situation people will
quickly and easily bottleneck into one end. With most
airports requiring a two-hour advance check-in, there’s
plenty of time for many things to occur but also plenty
of time for you to check out the exits. Just do it!
While
you may be familiar with your local establishments because
you frequent them, you are likely not familiar with these
types of places when you travel. Because they are unfamiliar
is all the more reason to check them out. Make it the
first thing you do when you enter any building, and be
sure to ask where the exits are if they’re not clearly
marked. Complacency is your worst enemy.
Most
fires, it seems, happen in the heat of the night when
it’s dark, when we’re sleeping, or drinking,
or otherwise engaged in joyous activities. Switching your
mindset from sleep mode or party animal to making life
and death decisions in a split second is a huge leap during
a dangerous and panic-stricken moment. If you’re
not prepared, you could likely make all the wrong decisions
when danger knocks. Your second worst enemy is thinking
it will never happen to you.
Bone
up on safety articles and TV shows. Not only does RTM
provide an entire Safety & Security section for travelers, Court
TV hits the nail on the head with their series “Safety
Challenge.” Hosted by ABC News legal correspondent
Cynthia McFadden, the Court TV Safety Challenge brings
viewers face-to-face with real-life situations, confronting
critical safety issues that can arise during various situations.
Among its challenges, the premier show will address hotel
fires. However, what viewers will learn is how these tips
can apply to all situations in any building.
The
show does more that offer tips. In fact, the interactive
Q&A format allows viewers to test their knowledge,
leaving them empowered and more prepared to handle a crisis.
Safety experts give viewers advice and essential tips
on how to protect themselves in an emergency. And should
you miss the new season’s premier on March 19, Court
TV plans to air several more safety challenges throughout
the year.
We
can’t stress enough that your life is your responsibility.
As we’ve seen, all the happiness and success in the
world can end in just three minutes. Take it upon yourself
to learn, explore, and teach others about basic safety
in case of an emergency. Take the time to look around
when you enter an establishment to ensure that emergency
information is available. Submit your own safety tip of
the week in your local papers, newsletters, or church
flyer. Take control. No contribution is too small.
Let
the heat of the night remain a great movie, not the legacy
of lives snuffed out.
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