Raise the alarm
- If your smoke alarm goes off while you are asleep, don't investigate to see if there is a fire - shout to wake everyone up, get everyone together, follow your plan and get out
- Check doors with the back of your hand - if they are warm, do not open them - the fire is on the other side
- If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along with your nose near the floor where the air will be cleaner
Escaping from a window
If you are on the ground floor or first floor you may be able to escape from a window:
- Check that the fire is not coming from the room below
- If you have to break the window cover the jagged glass with towels or thick bedding
- Throw some more bedding out of the window to break your fall.
Don't jump out of the window - lower yourself down to arm's length and drop to the ground - If you have any children or elderly or disabled people with you, plan the order you will escape in so that you can help them down.
Don't go back inside your home
- Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Fire Service, from a mobile phone, a neighbour's house or a phone box
- Give the address of the fire
- Don't stop or go back for anything
What to do if your escape route is blocked
- Get everyone in one room and close the door. Smoke and fumes can kill people quickly, so put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap
- Open the window and stay near it for fresh air and to let the firefighters see you
- Dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Fire Service, or shout for help so that someone else can phone for you
