Important fire safety tips
If your home is on fire:
• Check the doorknob and spaces around the door with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it’s cool, open it slowly, closing it quickly if smoke pours through.
• Always choose the safest escape route — the one with the least smoke and heat.
• If you must escape through smoke, crawl low on your hands and knees (NOT your stomach), keeping your head one to two feet above the floor, where the air holds less smoke and fumes.
• Close doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.
• If your primary and secondary escape routes are blocked by fire, seal yourself in safety: close all doors between you and the fire, and if possible, seal door cracks and cover air vents with duct tape, pillows, blankets or towels. Soaking towels with water provides an even stronger barrier against smoke and fumes.
• Check the doorknob and spaces around the door with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it’s cool, open it slowly, closing it quickly if smoke pours through.
• Always choose the safest escape route — the one with the least smoke and heat.
• If you must escape through smoke, crawl low on your hands and knees (NOT your stomach), keeping your head one to two feet above the floor, where the air holds less smoke and fumes.
• Close doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.
• If your primary and secondary escape routes are blocked by fire, seal yourself in safety: close all doors between you and the fire, and if possible, seal door cracks and cover air vents with duct tape, pillows, blankets or towels. Soaking towels with water provides an even stronger barrier against smoke and fumes.
If you live in an apartment or high-rise building:
• Learn and practice your building’s evacuation plan, which should be posted on every floor of your building.
• Report any locked or blocked windows or doors or security bars that don’t release quickly to your building’s management.
• Leave immediately if you hear a smoke alarm.
• Know the location of all building exits and fire alarms.
• Do not go back inside once you’ve escaped a fire.
• Use the stairs — never use elevators during a fire.
• Follow instructions announced over your building’s public address system, if applicable.
• Keep a portable phone with you during a fire emergency.
• React immediately if you are trapped. Seal vents and cracks around doors with wet cloths. Call the fire department, tell them where you are and signal from a window with a flashlight or light-colored cloth.
• Be patient; evacuating large buildings can take time.
• Do not assume you can or will be rescued from the roof.
• Learn and practice your building’s evacuation plan, which should be posted on every floor of your building.
• Report any locked or blocked windows or doors or security bars that don’t release quickly to your building’s management.
• Leave immediately if you hear a smoke alarm.
• Know the location of all building exits and fire alarms.
• Do not go back inside once you’ve escaped a fire.
• Use the stairs — never use elevators during a fire.
• Follow instructions announced over your building’s public address system, if applicable.
• Keep a portable phone with you during a fire emergency.
• React immediately if you are trapped. Seal vents and cracks around doors with wet cloths. Call the fire department, tell them where you are and signal from a window with a flashlight or light-colored cloth.
• Be patient; evacuating large buildings can take time.
• Do not assume you can or will be rescued from the roof.
For more fire safety information, visit www.Pella.com.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration, the American Red Cross, the Home Safety Council and the National Fire Protection Association.