Hotel / Motel Fire Safety
Like all buildings, hotels and motels can have fires. You can increase your chance for survival by being prepared and by doing the right thing in an emergency. Take time to become familiar with your surroundings and to plan how you can escape in case of fire. If a fire starts...stay calm. You are your best chance for survival. Hotels and motels are doing even more to make sure guests are safe from fire. When you make your reservation, ask if your hotel or motel has smoke detectors and automatic sprinklers. When you arrive, take time to read the fire safety and escape information and remember the following....
1. Find the two exits nearest your room. Make sure they are not locked or obstructed.
Count the number of doors from your room to these exits so you can find them even in darkness or smoke.
2. Learn how to find and unlock the door of your room in the dark.
Put your room key and a flashlight close to your bed. In the event of a fire, take your room key with you and don't pause to take anything else.
3. Locate the fire alarm on your floor. If you find a fire, sound the alarm, leave the building, then call the fire department.
4. When you hear the fire alarm, escape, don't investigate! Put these 10 tips to work tight away!
5. If the fire is in your room, get out and close the door. Once you're out, report the fire to the management and call the fire department.
6. If the fire is not in your room, leave if you can. First, feel the door. If it's cool, open it slowly and go to the nearest exit.
7. If your door is hot, don't open it. Your room may be the safest place for you to stay.
Call the fire department to report the fire and let them know you're trapped and where you are.
Seal all cracks with wet towels. Shut off all fans and air conditioners. Signal at your window or balcony with a white towel of bed sheet and wait to be rescued.
8. Crawl low in smoke. Cleaner air will be at the floor. If you encounter smoke or fire at lower levels, turn around and use another exit.
Take your key so you can go back to your room if you can't use the exits.
9. Never use the elevators during the fire. They could stop at the floor where the fire is located. Use interior stairs instead.
10. Never smoke in bed. Almost half of all fatal hotel fires are caused by careless smoking.