Fire Safety During Vacation Travels
With the summer months approaching, people have probably began to make several vacation plans which often includes booming hotels. While disasters are often the last thing anyone wants to think about on their vacation, it is important to keep in mind fire safety. It has been reported from the National Fire Protection Association that on average there are 143 injuries yearly from a fire at a hotel. Therefore, it is very important that you and your families or friends remain aware and safe during your hotel stays. Often, we have fire safety plans set in place in our home. However, we often forget to think about this when we are staying in a hotel. If you are traveling and staying in a hotel it is crucial for your well-being to still practice fire safety in Chicago.
By reading these tips before your next hotel stay you can protect yourself and others:
- Before You Leave Home:
Before you leave your home, and once you have booked your hotel, you can double check your hotels fire safety equipment. You want to make sure your hotel has fire sprinklers and smoke alarms. If you are traveling with children, discuss with them what to do in a fire emergency. You can provide children an example such as how they will do essentially what they do during a fire drill at school. Make sure to pack basic emergency essentials such as a flashlight.
- When You Arrive at the Hotel
Although you will be excited and ready to begin your vacation, before you get settled in you should make sure that you check the location of the fire alarm, fire extinguisher, and any designated fire exits. If you don't see any designated fire exits, you should ask the hotel clerk if there are any escape routes or read through the fire evacuation plan to become prepared in the event of a fire. If you have children make sure you show them these fire exits and if they are going to be alone make sure to explain to them the proper emergency procedures.
- In the Case of a Hotel Fire
These plans are just in case of a fire. We never expect a fire to happen but sometimes they, unfortunately, do occur. If there is a fire make sure you remain calm and follow the instructions from emergency escape routes. Before exiting the hotel room, make sure to check the door knob to ensure the fire isn't on the other side of the door. You can do this by simply touching the door knob with the back or your hand. If you are unable to leave the hotel room, do your best to cover the gaps between the door and the floor to prevent smoke from entering your room.
In the unlikely case of a fire, always assess the situation first to decide the best escape route. Always make sure to follow the proper procedures of the hotel as best as you can to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Never concern yourself with gathering belongings or returning inside the building. The most important step is to do your best to safely exit the building as quickly as possible.