1. Check room doors for heat or
smoke. Do not open a hot door. Use
an alternate escape route. Close
doors behind you as you leave.
2. If smoke is heavy, crawl out,
staying close to floor. Take short
breaths, if possible, through a wet
cloth or hold your breath. More
people die from smoke inhalation
than from flames.
3. Get out as fast as you can. Do not
stop for packing.
Have a
prearranged meeting place outside
for all family members. Check
everybody is there.
4. Call the Fire Brigade from a
neighbour’s house. Remember to
give your name and address.
5. NEVER re-enter a burning house.
Limitations of Smoke / Heat Alarms
Smoke/Heat Alarms have significantly helped to reduce the
number of fire fatalities in countries where they are widely
installed.
However independent authorities have stated that they may
be ineffective in some circumstances. There are a number of
reasons for this:
• The Alarms will not work if 12 Volt power supply is off or if
they are not connected properly.
• Smoke / Heat Alarms will not detect fire if sufficient smoke /
heat does not reach the alarm. Smoke / heat may be
prevented from reaching the Alarm if the fire is too far away,
for example, if the fire is on another floor, behind a closed
door, in a chimney, in a wall cavity, or if the prevailing air
draughts carry the smoke/heat away. Installing Smoke /
12
13425-R1-12V COMMON-UC 29/9/09 7:56 AM Page 12
