Keep your mouth closed and start from your hips"... Evacuation tips for a fire

Experts advise that in the event of a building fire, you should move quickly.

At this time, use the stairs instead of the elevator and lower your posture to reduce inhalation of smoke.

It is also important to cover your nose and mouth with a damp towel.

[Yeom Geon-woong / Professor of Police and Fire Administration at Youwon University (YTN News Square 10AM): First, cover yourself with a handkerchief or similar item, then dampen it with water, which is even better. You should then escape through the emergency exit while minimizing inhalation of toxic gases by keeping the cloth wet. Under no circumstances should you use the elevator in this situation.]

Super high-rise buildings over 50 floors have evacuation safety zones installed every 30 floors, and it is better to evacuate to the nearest safety zone rather than forcing your way outside.

Professor Gong Ha-seong / Woosuk University Department of Fire Safety and Disaster Prevention: Ordinary high-rise buildings inevitably have long evacuation routes. Therefore, safety zones are established to shorten the evacuation path.

However, if you miss the opportunity to evacuate outside due to smoke filling the corridor, like in the Bucheon hotel fire, one method is to block the door gap with a damp cloth to prevent toxic gases from entering and wait for rescue inside.

If you turn the showerhead above your head, it can form a barrier that temporarily blocks toxic gases.

In this incident as well, a woman who blocked all gaps in the bathroom door and endured by spraying water on her face and body was dramatically rescued.

Yongsuk Lee / President of the Korea Safety Experts Association (YTN NewsUP): Because 90% of deaths occur due to smoke from other places, people close the doors and evacuate to the bathroom. Another important point is that if each household has a fire-resistant mask compliant with KS standards, and they wear it and go to the bathroom, it becomes a very safe situation.

The last resort for evacuation is an air mattress.

However, controversy has arisen over whether the installation and management were properly carried out, as guests who jumped from the air mattress have died.

Experts emphasize that understanding safe falling positions and postures is also important.

Yong Jae / Professor of Fire Safety and Disaster Prevention at Kyungmin University (YTN News Square 2PM): What does a proper posture mean? It means that the buttocks should make contact with the safety mat first, which is the most important. Keep your mouth closed. Because it helps prevent internal injuries and other damages...

Experts point out that while learning evacuation procedures after a fire is important, more attention should also be paid to installing and maintaining facilities such as sprinklers and fire doors to reduce fire damage.

This is YTN Yoon Tae-in.

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We conducted a formal fire evacuation drill at work, but unfortunately, due to the Bucheon hotel fire incident.

With a sense of urgency, I understand that it could happen to me as well, and it is no longer someone else's matter.

I saw it.