Act directly
Since a fire can grow rapidly, it is important to act quickly. Your only chance of extinguishing a fire yourself is when it is still small. Make a plan about how you should react and how you will escape if a fire starts. The basic rules are:
SAVE – WARN – ALARM – EXTINGUISH
Fires in clothes
If somebody’s clothes catch fire, get them down on the floor quickly. If they are standing up or running around, the flames will spread more quickly and the risk of damage to the breathing passages will increase. Extinguish the fire by spreading a blanket or similar over the person. Smother the fire by sealing out the air, working from the head downwards. It is important that the blanket is made from natural materials – artificial fibres, especially fleece, catch fire very quickly themselves.
Fire in a frying pan/saucepan
If a saucepan/frying pan catches fire, move it away from the hot plate and smother it with a lid. Never use water to extinguish margarine or oil – this will cause the fat to explode and create a violent spread of fire, and will increase the risk of you being severely burnt.
Fire in a TV
If a TV catches fire, first pull out the power plug. Then extinguish the fire with a hand fire extinguisher or by pouring water over it.
Other types of fire
If the fire is small, try to extinguish it but do not take any unnecessary risks. If there is a hand fire extinguisher nearby, pull out the pin, get closer to the fire, keep your body low and aim the spray at the material that is burning, not at the flames. Beware of the smoke.
When you can’t extinguish the fire yourself
If you do not have anything to extinguish the fire with safely, it is more important to take yourself to safety. Close the door in the room where the fire is, and even the door of the apartment, once everybody is out. Otherwise the smoke will spread into the stairwell. Ring 112 (Rescue Services) and warn your neighbours.
Fires in other parts of an apartment building
Stay inside your own apartment. An apartment door will normally withstand fire for about 30 minutes. Use wet towels to seal around the door and the letterbox. Never venture into a smoke-filled stairwell and never try to use the lift. Ring 112 and shout for help from a window or balcony.
If you need help - ring 112
If you need help, ring 112. This will bring you to an alarm operator at SOS central services. To get the best and fastest help, just answer the questions the operator has about: what has happened, where it has happened, the number of the telephone you are ringing from, etc. Help will not be delayed just because you answer a lot of questions – the operator will spread the alarm to other operators and the rescue services while you are talking, and send them to the correct location. Try to meet the services when they arrive so that you can show them the way and save time.
RÄDDNINGSVERKET (RESCUE SERVICES) www.raddningsverket.se
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