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Fire-elated Hotel Preparedness

What You Should Do If Smoke Is Present

Hotel fires are rare however by formulating an escape plan prior to an actual fire, and staying calm during the event, you can greatly increase your chance of survival.

Upon Check In...Take a few moments after your arrival to do each of the following.

  • Review the Hotel Evacuation Plan located on the back of your hotel room door. Note the location of all fire exits on your floor.
  • Locate nearby fire alarms and fire extinguishers.
  • Practice unlocking and opening the windows in your room. Look outside to see if you could escape without injury.
  • Learn the layout of your room, and know how to unlock your door in the dark. This will help prepare you for quick evacuation at night or during a power outage.
  • Place your room keys on a night stand where you can find them quickly. Take your room key with you when you evacuate in case emergency exits are blocked by fire and you must return to your room.
Fire in Your Room... If fire begins in your room, stay calm and remember these tips:
  • Evacuate your room immediately. Quickly grab your key and flashlight. As you exit, close the door behind you to prevent the spread of flames into the hallway.
  • Sound the fire alarm and alert neighbors on your floor of the emergency.
  • Walk to safety via the nearest fire exit. If you encounter smoke en route, crouch or crawl low to the ground.
  • Once you are safe from danger, locate the nearest phone and inform the front desk or hotel operator of the emergency.
Fire Outside Your Room... If fire occur elsewhere in the hotel, be prepared to hear the fire alarm, shouting in the hallway, a phone call from hotel officials, and sirens.  If you are the one to detect smoke or fire, call the hotel operator immediately.
  • Grab your room key. If you detect any smoke in the your room quickly drop to the ground and crawl toward the door.
  • DO NOT stand up in smoke - you may be overcome by the rising toxic gasses.
  • Feel the door with the back of your hand. If the for feels unusually warm or hot DO NOT open it - the fire may be right outside.
  • If the door isn't warm or hot, open it slowly. Be prepared to close the door quickly if smoke is rushes in.
If Smoke is Present... If your hotel room door is hot, and there is smoke in the hallway, stay calm and keep the door closed. You can survive a hotel fire by awaiting rescue in your room.
  • If the phone works, call the hotel operator. Explain that you are trapped in your room and in need of rescue.
  • Meanwhile, fill the bathtub with water and wet your towels and sheets. You may also use water to cool the walls; use a wastebasket or ice bucket to help bail water.
  • To seal the doorway from smoke, put wet towels or sheets at the bottom of the door. If you have wide duct tape, seal the entire door jam. Stuff any vents with wet towels or sheets, or tape a magazine over each vent to prevent smoke from entering.
  • To make your location more visible to firefighters, hang a sheet out the window. Do Not use the sheet to climb down from your room.
  • Despite your best efforts, smoke may still enter the room. Use a blanket or sheet to make a tent over your head, put your covered head out the window and breathe the clean air. If your window does not open you may have to break it with a chair or drawer. Break the window only as a last resort.
  • If smoke can enter your room from outside, close the window immediately and keep it closed. Make this observation before breaking a window.
If the hallway is Clear...If you have been alerted to fire in the hotel, yet your door is not hot, and the hallway is free from smoke, follow these guidelines:
  • Take your room key, close the door behind you, and walk to the nearest fire exit as mapped out in the evacuation plan. (Do not take time to gather your belongings).  
  • Do Not Take The Elevator. If you attempt to take the elevator in a fire you may become trapped. the elevator may also take you to the floor where the fire is.
  • Using the stairs, walk to the bottom floor of the hotel. Hold onto the handrail as you go so as not to be knocked down by someone behind you.
  • If you encounter smoke or fire on lower levels, return to your room. Call the hotel operator and explain that your are trapped in your room.
  • If you cannot make it back to your room walk to a floor with clearer air, and attempt to find another emergency exit. As a last resort, take the stairs to the roof.

Source: San Diego Safety Council 

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Cheers,

Annette
President & Co-founder



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