On the eve of the Unified Safety Day, which will be held on September 22 this year, it is very useful to recall the rules that will help you and your loved ones act correctly in case of an emergency.
On the eve of the Unified Safety Day, which will be held on September 22 this year, it is very useful to recall the rules that will help you and your loved ones act correctly in case of an emergency.
Calm, only calm
Imagine that a fire has occurred in your home. What will you do first? Grab the children, documents, the cat? What if the fire started on the stairwell or at the neighbours' and smoke is rising to you? Will you be able to orient yourself in the dim light of smoke, find the exit, open the door or window with a key? Will your loved ones be able to do this?
It is precisely in order not to be confused and panicked in an emergency that rescuers in many countries recommend developing your own emergency response plan in advance. And act according to it. Large enterprises and organisations use an Evacuation Plan for this purpose. But at home, you can also orient yourself according to your own plan to save your life.
A plan that cannot be changed is a bad plan
Where to start? First of all, from what might happen. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Belarus, 80% of emergencies are fires in residential areas. The basis of your plan can be drawn up in general terms. What should it include:
· What could happen?
· Where?
· How will I act? How to evacuate if it is impossible to stay in place?
· Where will we take shelter?
· What will we do if the first escape option fails or the exit is blocked?
· What items should be taken with us?
To assess the reality of the plan, your personal experience may not be enough. Here, the advice of those who have encountered or dealt with emergencies will be useful. Instructions, leaflets, brochures from rescuers or other emergency services will help. They will allow you to develop the right approach depending on whether you live in a private house or a multi-storey building. In addition to the threat of fire, it is important to know also
other potential sources of emergencies in your area: are there any chemically hazardous facilities, large rivers, reservoirs, forests, or peat bogs nearby.
Emergency Exit
If you live in an apartment building, find out if there are emergency exits from the building, where they are located, and how they open.
Try to always keep necessary items within reach: phone, glasses, apartment keys, hearing aids, essential medications (insulin, etc.).
Do not obstruct stairwells and keep access to fire escapes clear.
If there is heavy smoke in the corridor, assess the situation and whether you can safely leave the building. Do not use the lift.
If there is too much smoke in the corridor, close the doors tightly and get to the balcony. Report your apartment number by calling "101" or "112". Follow the recommendations of the rescuers.
In case of emergencies such as floods, large forest fires, or destruction of residential buildings due to man-made disasters, evacuation for a longer period may be required. In such cases, time is of the essence. Therefore, an emergency kit (reserve supply) should be prepared in advance and updated periodically. What should be included, calculated for all family members:
· First aid kit;
· Canned food, drinking water;
· Radio receiver and flashlight with spare batteries;
· Matches in a waterproof container, lighters;
· Cutlery: knife, forks, spoons, bowls, mugs;
· Personal hygiene items.
It is generally recommended to have 2 such kits, the second one can be stored in the car trunk.
If there is time for evacuation, it is advisable to supplement the kit with seasonal spare clothing and footwear. However, whatever you plan to take with you, make sure you can carry it. Place the emergency kit in a waterproof bag, and take documents and cash with you.
Follow news on radio and TV, and emergency service announcements. Mentally review your personal plan: how it will work in an emergency situation mentioned in the reports. Concurrently, check the contents of your emergency kit and consider what else might be needed. If the media
transmit instructions from emergency services, follow these instructions, and
coordinate your own plan with them.
