Every year, nearly 97,000 businesses catch on fire, underscoring the importance of having a fire safety plan in place. Protection systems such as fire alarms and sprinklers protect your employees in case of an emergency, but understanding how to react can help them exit a flaming building and minimize smoke inhalation. To provide your employees with this potentially life-saving information, here are some tips to include in your workplace’s fire safety strategy.

3 Steps to Take During an Office Fire

1. Crouch & Crawl

As soon as you notice smoke in the air or hear the fire alarm, crouch to the floor and crawl around the perimeter of the room to the nearest exit. If a door is hot to the touch or there is smoke flowing from underneath it, keep it closed and crawl to another exit or a window. To prevent smoke inhalation, cover your mouth and nose with the collar of your shirt.

2. Stop, Drop, & Roll

If your clothes catch fire, the classic stop, drop, and roll technique is an effective way to put it out. The moment you notice an article of clothing on fire, drop immediately to the ground, lying as flat as possible against the floor. Cover your face with your hands and roll vigorously in any direction. The quick movements will smother the fire.

3. Act Fast If You Get Trapped

If you can’t exit through a door and your office is on a floor that makes window-escape impossible, call for help instead of hiding. If there are windows, open them and signal for help. Use clothing, curtains, or any other type of fabric to block smoke from entering under doors. Stay as visible as you can so emergency responders can find you.

If you need to install or inspect the fire protection systems in your commercial space, call GMW Fire Protection. For over 15 years, they’ve provided residents and businesses in the Anchorage, AK, area with fire alarms, fire sprinkler systems, emergency and exit lighting, and fire extinguishers to keep people safe in case of an emergency. Learn more about what they do on their website, or call (907) 336-5000 to schedule an inspection of your fire alarms.