Fire Safety

Crawl if there is smoke 

• If you get caught in smoke, get down and crawl.
• Cleaner cooler air will be near the floor 
• Get Low - And Go 

Feel doors before opening 

• Before opening any doors, feel the metal doorknob
  • If it is hot, don't open the door.
  • If it is cool, brace yourself against the door, open it slightly, and if heat or heavy smoke is present, close the door and stay in the room. 

Go to the nearest exit or stairway

• If the nearest exit is blocked by fire, heat, or smoke, go to another exit.

Always use a exit stairway, not an elevator

• Elevator shafts may fill with smoke or the power may fail, leaving you trapped. 
• Stairway fire doors will keep out fire and smoke if they are closed and will protect you until you get outside. 
• Do not prop doors open. A closed door helps to confine the fire. 

Total and immediate evacuation is the safest 

If you get trapped and cannot evacuate safely: 

Keep the doors closed 

• Seal cracks and vents to prevent smoke from coming in.
• If you're trapped in a room and there's smoke outside, open the windows from the top to let out the heat and smoke and from the bottom to let in the fresh air. 

Signal for help

• Hang an object out the window (a bed sheet, jacket, shirt) to attract the fire department's attention. 
• If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and report that you are trapped. 
• Be sure to give your room number and location. 
• Do Not jump, the fire department will rescue you. 

Stop, Drop, and Roll 

• Stop, do not run. Stopping helps minimize the airflow.
• Dropping makes the flames go vertical, reducing the areas likely to burn - especially the face.
• Rolling helps to extinguish the flames.

To cool burns 

• Use cool tap water on burns immediately.
• Don't use ointments. 

Seek emergency care for major burns, which:

• Are deep, involving all layers of the skin.
• Cause the skin to be dry and leathery.
• Appear charred or have patches of white, brown or black.
• Are larger than 3 inches in diameter.
• Cover the hands, feet, face, groin, buttocks or a major joint, or encircles an arm or leg.
• Are accompanied by smoke inhalation.
• Begin swelling very quickly.

Never use an elevator in a fire or earthquake. If persons with disabilities cannot be transported from the building without using an elevator, assist persons with disabilities to the designated Area of Rescue Assistance on each floor of the building. The Area of Rescue Assistance can be found on all of the evacuation maps posted inside ISU buildings.

If immediate evacuation is necessary, be aware of the following considerations: 

• Alerting Visually Impaired Persons
  • Announce the type of emergency
  • Offer your arm for guidance
  • Tell person where you are going, obstacles you encounter
  • When you reach safety, ask if further help is needed

• Alerting Persons with Hearing Limitations
  
  • Turn lights on/off to gain person's attention
  • Indicate directions with gestures
  • Write a note with evacuation directions, if necessary

• Evacuating People Using Crutches, Canes or Walkers
  • Evacuate these individuals as injured persons
  • Assist and accompany to evacuation site if possible
  • Use a sturdy chair (or one with wheels) to move person

• Evacuating Wheelchair Users
  • Non-ambulatory persons’ needs and preferences vary
  • Individuals at ground floor locations may exit without help
  • Check for the availability of special evacuation chairs
  • For others that have minimal ability to move, lifting may be dangerous
  • Some non-ambulatory persons have respiratory  complications
  • Remove them from smoke and vapors immediately
  • Wheelchair users with electrical respirators get priority assistance
  • Immediately advise first responders of special evacuation cases