What You Can Do to Safely Escape a Building Fire

Feb. 21, 2003 -- When concertgoers arrived at a Rhode Island night club Thursday night, the last thing on their minds was probably how they might escape a fire.

But as safety experts repeatedly warn, being prepared for and surviving such emergencies starts with a simple change of attitude.

"People need to be aware that there is a possibility of danger no matter where they go. That is so key," says Casey Grant, assistant chief engineer of the National Fire Protection Association in Quincy, Mass.

Once people remember that situations such as being in a crowded night club can present dangers, the rest is just "common sense," says Grant.

Here are some of the often neglected basics that everyone should remember:

"Anytime anyone goes into any facility, no matter what it is, they should be clear of how they got in, and what are the ways out," says Grant. "Just like the crew on airplanes point out how the nearest exit may be behind you, you want to note which are the closest exits to wherever you are in a building." In many cases, such as the Rhode Island club fire, some survivors escaped by knowing a "back way" out and avoiding the jammed main exits.

Since there may be no time to think during a fire or other crisis, a little pre-planning doesn't hurt, says Grant. Know what you will do and how you will get out.

Once you know what you'll do yourself, plan for others — a date, a spouse, friends, family members. Are there special considerations, say an elderly parent in a wheelchair? If there are more than two people in your group, how does everyone get out? Make sure everyone in your group knows the plan and where to meet afterward, that way you'll know if rescuers will need to look for missing members.

People often end up becoming victims when they go back into a burning building looking for a loved one or hear others cry for help. Under no circumstances should you ever go back into danger. Wait for fire and rescue personnel who are trained for such emergencies.