How to increase survival rate in high-rise building and apartment fire?

According to experts, how you stay calm and respond during accidents such as fires can be the deciding factor between life and death.

Survive toxic smoke

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a forest fire or house fire, smoke is "enemy number 1" , often causing victims to fall into dangerous, even dangerous situations. is loss of life.

Smoke is actually a complex mixture of gases and fine particles, formed by wood and other organic materials when burning. In house fires, mixed materials such as plastic, nylon. also cause smoke to carry many toxic impurities.

Smoke is "enemy number 1" in fires, often causing victims to fall into dangerous situations. (Photo: iStock).

According to doctor Vu Viet Ha, Department of Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, victims in fires are often in danger of smoke inhalation, which can cause death due to lack of oxygen on the spot. or CO poisoning. 

In the event of a fire, the immediate thing to do is to cover your face and nose with a wet towel to help filter out some of the smoke and toxic gases.  However, this does not prevent CO poisoning. During a fire, if you stay in a closed room, even if you are equipped with wet towels, you can still get CO poisoning.

Therefore, it is important to evacuate a smoke-filled building as soon as possible to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. If you cannot evacuate, you should try to stay low to the ground and cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth.

In all cases, it is necessary to limit breathing air covered with smoke. Do not take a deep breath, but divide it into many small breaths, which will help less toxic gas penetrate into the lungs. At the same time, you should seek fresh air as soon as possible.

Give quick first aid if burned

First aid for burns to minimize damage and promote healing. (Photo: Getty).

Fires are always accompanied by high temperatures, which can cause acute burns, skin burns, airway burns. Not only that, high heat also causes airway edema, which can even lead to death.

Immediate first aid for burns is important to minimize damage and promote healing. However, the first thing to do is to remove yourself and the injured person from the source of the burn.

Next, place the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for about 10-20 minutes or until the pain subsides. Avoid using ice or water that is too cold as it may cause additional side effects.

Once the burn has cooled, cover it with a sterile nonstick bandage or clean cloth to protect it from dirt and minimize the risk of infection. Avoid using adhesive tape directly on the burn.

How to safely escape a high-rise building

A structure fire in Massueville, Canada. (Photo: Wikipedia).

Many fires occur in apartment buildings and high-rise buildings, making it difficult to escape the fire or rescue work.

If you fall into this situation, you need to stay calm and find an appropriate way to respond . Take a moment to assess the fire and determine whether you can get out safely.

If you are in immediate danger or the fire is spreading quickly, do not try to put it out yourself. Instead focus on evacuating . Don't waste time gathering your personal belongings, as your safety is a top priority.

It is necessary to immediately locate the nearest exit points from your current location. Become familiar with the building's evacuation plan if one exists. Normally, you should use the stairs instead of the elevator when evacuating a fire, because elevators can malfunction in the event of a fire.

Go to the nearest safe exit and follow designated exits if there are any. If the main exit is blocked or unsafe, find an alternative emergency exit such as a window or fire escape.

Fire police provide instructions on how to escape an apartment fire.

If you're on a higher floor, consider signaling for help by waving a piece of cloth or using a flashlight to attract attention.

Remember, it is important to prioritize your safety and the safety of others during a fire evacuation. Absolutely do not jump down from high floors, because it can cause serious injuries, leading to loss of life.

If the way down is blocked, the safest way to escape a high-rise building is to use the emergency rope ladder . This is a specialized fire protection device for escaping from high-rise buildings or apartment complexes.

At first glance, the product does not have much difference from a regular rope ladder. However, emergency rope ladders have many improved designs, such as high heat resistance, good fire resistance, large weight capacity. allowing users in case of a fire to quickly escape using this device and still be able to escape. Safe, does not cause burns or injuries.

Climbing down the ladder is not as difficult as using a rope but needs to be quick and careful. The ladder can be used to escape sequentially for the whole family because the two ends of the rope are like pulleys, and the U-shaped steps lean against the wall when stepping down, creating safe stability.