If caught in smoke Drop to hands and knees and crawl or crouch low with head 30" to 36" above the floor, watching the base of the wall as you go. Avoid crawling on your belly, because heavier toxic gases can settle and form a thin layer on the floor.
Crawl if there is smoke: If you get caught in smoke, get down and crawl, taking short breaths through your nose. Cleaner cooler air will be near the floor. Remember, "Get low and Go!" Feel the doors before opening: Before opening any doors, feel the door knob or handle.
You'll breathe less smoke if you stay close to the ground. Smoke naturally rises, so if there is smoke while you're using your escape route, staying low means you can crawl under most of it. You can drop to the floor and crawl on your hands and knees below the smoke.
Going through smoke
The hottest and potentially most toxic area is at ceiling level. There will be fresh air at floor level.
Locate the nearest emergency exit, designated with an EXIT sign, a picture of a running man in a doorway, or both. If smoke is present, stay low. If you are unable to escape, proceed back into your room.
Once inside the stair exit corridor, remain there until exiting the building is possible. Do not re-enter on another floor level. Get Down Low and Crawl under the smoke - If you get caught in a smoke filled area, get down on your hands and knees and crawl under the smoke.
Know two ways out of every room
Smoke and heat rise. Crawl on the floor to avoid high heat and toxic fumes. If smoke or fire block an exit, use a window or another route. If you have burglar bars, make sure they have a quick-release mechanism.
Secondhand smoke can travel through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, ventilation systems and plumbing.
Two of the major agents in smoke that can cause health effects are carbon monoxide gas and very small particles (fine particles, or PM2. 5 ).
Fire dampers
A fire damper's primary function is to maintain compartmentation and prevent, or impede, the spread of fire through the ventilation ductwork.
EEBD: EEBD (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) is used to escape from a room on fire or filled with smoke. The location and spares of the same must be as per the requirements given in the FSS code.
Once a fire has started, life threatening toxic gases are bound to be released. Breathing even a small amount of smoke and such toxic gases can make a person drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. The odourless, colourless fumes can lull you to sleep even before the flames reach you door, he added.
A painted wall that has been stained by cigarette smoke can be cleaned using a solution of half vinegar and half water. It will remove the stain while not damaging the paintwork, and the smell of vinegar will disappear within 24 hours.
If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you. If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1.
Baking soda and activated charcoal: Sprinkling either baking soda or activated charcoal powder (sold at pet stores) can remove cigarette odors just as it can mildew smells.
All fires can be extinguished by cooling, smothering, starving or by interrupting the combustion process to extinguish the fire.
The most traditional of fire escape ladders has a 'C'-shaped hook which is placed over the window sill and wall of a window.
Closing doors to prevent the spread of fire
One of the most effective measures to prevent fire from spreading through a building and to reduce smoke damage is to ensure that all internal doors are kept shut, particularly out of school hours.