Fire

Small effort. Big impact that saves lives

• Install smoke alarms in all rooms except the kitchen and bathroom. You can find more information on the next page.
• Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? Learn how to use it properly and have it serviced regularly. Put a fire extinguisher in the car, but secure it well. Although this is not required by law, the ADAC records more than 40,000 car fires every year.
• Keep a fire blanket made of wool or other suitable material to hand to extinguish burning clothing.
• All important documents and papers should be in a bag that you can quickly take with you.

• Never leave open lights, such as candles or fires, unattended.
• Remove easily combustible material from the cellar.
• Regularly clear out the attic and remove particularly flammable material from corners and sloping ceilings.
• Make sure that the electrical appliances and systems in your home are in good working order. Replace defective appliances and old socket strips.

No matter where you are, you should find out a few things in advance:

• Find out how to reach the nearest stairwell in the event of a fire. Do not use elevators!
• See where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
• Do you know how and where you can make an emergency call? Ask about it.
• Do you have a disability or is a companion disabled? Ask for assistance with evacuation.
• Memorize the escape routes in hotels, discotheques, cinemas, etc. This will save your life in the event of a fire or panic.

• Corridors and stairwells should not be constricted or even blocked by objects. The escape route must be clear.
• The front door in an apartment building should have a lock with a panic function so that the door can be opened from the inside at any time in an emergency.
• Doors in escape routes must be kept closed - but never locked. This prevents the spread of fire or smoke in the escape route.
• Hydrants or fire department access routes must not be blocked.
• Safety equipment in the house should be checked and maintained regularly.

No fire without smoke and toxic gases. Escape routes quickly become unusable or smoke poisoning or, in the worst case, death by asphyxiation can occur. Smoke alarms on the ceiling can save lives.

Commercially available smoke detectors are the size of the palm of your hand and are easy to install. They can be operated as individual smoke detectors or networked via radio and have a penetrating, audible alarm signal. Devices with a flashing light or vibration alarm are available for deaf people. When installing, make sure they are certified in accordance with VDS and DIN EN 14604.

Always install the smoke alarms at the highest point in the room, as smoke rises upwards. Many devices have a test button to check the alarm and indicate when the battery needs replacing.

Extinguishers

Extinguishers such as fire extinguishers belong in every company and ideally also in every private household. The size may vary depending on the legal regulations and the potential fire hazard. Ask your local fire department about this. All extinguishers only help in the initial phase of a fire.

After all, the extinguishing time is limited. Therefore, do not put yourself in danger when attempting to extinguish the fire. Specialist dealers can provide information on operation and extinguishing capacity.

• Try to nip the source of the fire in the bud immediately.
• Only attempt to extinguish the fire if there is no danger to you!
• Never extinguish burning grease or other liquid fuels with water! This can cause a very high jet flame - this is life-threatening! If you can do so without endangering yourself, switch off the energy source or remove the pan from the hotplate. Place a lid on the pan to smother the fire or use a fire blanket. Only use special fire extinguishers that are suitable for
• grease fires (fire class F).
• Switch off the power supply in the danger zone before starting to extinguish the fire! Beware of electric shock!
• Always delete from the bottom to the top and from the side to the center!
• Never enter smoke-filled rooms! Toxic fumes form there. If you find yourself in a smoke-filled room, crawl forward on the floor. Close the door from the outside and call the fire department on 112.

• Close the windows in the room, but only if this is possible without endangering yourself. If not, leave the room immediately.
• Close the door of the room in which the fire is burning. This will deprive the fire of oxygen.

3. call the fire department

• Call 112!
• Report: Who is calling? Where is the fire? What is burning? How much is burning (size)? What dangers are there (people, gas cylinders stored, etc.)?
• Wait for queries!

• Warn other people in the apartment or house!
• Get yourself and others to safety (also by other people if necessary).

• Describe the premises, people in danger or objects that could explode to the fire department.

• Do you need to leave the building, apartment, floor, etc.? Make sure that no one is left behind.
• Close all doors, but do not lock them to facilitate a quick search.
• Fire doors and fire compartment doors are naturally closed.
• Have the keys for rooms or windows that can only be opened with a key ready for the emergency services.

• After leaving the building, check that everyone in the apartment or house is safe. If a person is missing, the fire department must always assume that they are still in the building and therefore in danger.