Escaping Fire And Smoke

Cold weather brings its own fire hazards. CBS News This Morning talks to Meri-K Appy, director of education at the National Fire Protection Association, about the measures you should take to prevent a fire or to escape one.

Two fatal fires this winter, one in a New York highrise and another in a Detroit house, underscore the need for different fire safety tactics in different types of buildings. But, Appy says, some of those tactics are universal.

Whether the home is an apartment or a house, Appy says, most winter fire hazards are related to cooking and heating, with heating more of a concern. Space heaters and fireplaces are risks, especially when there are Christmas trees, wrapping paper, or greeting cards nearby. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from a heat source, she advises. And make sure the fireplace or space heater is properly maintained.

No matter how careful you are, Appy advises people to have a fire escape plan just in case:

"You need to plan in advance exactly how every member of your household will get out regardless of where you are. Your plan has to make sure you understand how to keep yourself away from smoke,", she says. Smoke, not the fire itself, accounts for most fire fatalities.

Appy recommends an automatic fire sprinkler system to protect both your family and your house. Smoke detectors also are needed in or near sleeping areas. But that's not enough.

"The majority of fatal fires occur at night, while people are sleeping. You have to have a way to wake people up at night," Appy says. "A smoke alarm can't do the job. You have to know everybody in your family knows what to do in case the alarm goes off."

Here are some recommendations:

• Rehearse your escape plan. Here are some facts your family members should know: Never move toward smoke. When there is smoke, the lower you are to the ground, the better off you are. If the door to your room is shut, go up to it and feel the doorknob with the back of your hand. If it's hot, there is fire outside. If it's cool, crack open the door to check where the fire is. If the coast is clear, go to a pre-planned meeting place in the house.
• Have a backup plan in case you cannot escape the room. This should include buying a home fire escape ladder which can be lowered from the window if you are on an upper floor.
• In an apartment, get familiar with the layout of the building, including escape routes and features like fire doors or fire walls. Sometimes it is safer to stay put in an apartment building. If you do leave, use the stairwells and take your keys with you, closing your door behind you. If you encounter smoke, return to your apartment and call 911. Then seal up the door frames and heating or ventilation ducts to prevent the spread of smoke and fire. Don't break the windows, ecause you may need to seal them to prevent smoke from coming in from the outside.
• Make sure windows open smoothly in case you need to escape or open them for ventilation.
• Practice your fire escape plan with your family at least twice a year.

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