Part II

We provide this free safety resource to visitors of the Community Room of SeniorSSuperStoreS in an effort to keep baby boomers, seniors and the elderly informed of matters that can affect their lifestyle.

In Fire Safety for Older Adults, Part I in our Community Room, we covered some home safety tips to protect you from fire dangers in your home. This follow up installment covers what to do if you do become a victim of fire.

Smother a grease fire: If a pan of food catches fire, using a pot holder, carefully slide a lid over it and turn off the burner. Keep the lid in place until both it and the pan cool.

If you are trapped: Remain calm. Close all doors between you and the smoke. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department via 911 and tell the dispatcher where you are trapped. Call the fire department even if you can see fire trucks through your window. Stuff rags, towels, or clothing in the cracks around doors to keep smoke out. Wait at a window and signal fire fighters by waving a light-colored cloth or flashlight and wait to be rescued.

Test doors before you open them: Kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up as high as you can and touch the hinge, the knob, and the space between the door and its frame with the back of your hand. If the door is cool, open it cautiously and continue along your escape route. If it is warm, keep the door closed and seek an alternative escape route or stay in your room.

Crawl low under smoke: If you encounter smoke while using your primary exit, use an alternative route. If you must exit through smoke, crouch or crawl. Heat and smoke rise; cleaner air will be 12 to 24 inches above the floor.

Get out and stay out: Leave the building as quickly as you can. Call the fire department from a neighbor's phone. Do not go back into the building for any reason.

Stop, drop and roll: If your clothing catches fire, stop where you are, drop gently to the floor or ground; cover your face with your hands to protect your face from flames; and roll over and over to smother the flames. If you cannot drop to the floor, smother the flames with a blanket or towel.

. Courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02269.