In the face of a fire, knowledge is not just power; it’s survival. Fire, a primal force of nature, holds within its flickering flames the potential for both awe-inspiring beauty and catastrophic destruction. To navigate this potent element, understanding its nuances, risks, and appropriate response strategies becomes paramount.
In this article, we will explore the need to respond in the right way to a fire. From staying present amid overwhelming fear to avoiding catastrophic thinking in the midst of chaos, we will look at the tangible and intangible aspects of survival. Let’s dive in.
What Should You Know About Fires?
The first thing to know is that fire can cause extreme devastation and destruction if not managed properly. Understanding the different types of fires, their causes, and the appropriate response strategies is essential to understanding how serious a situation you are in.
Not all fires are the same. Depending on the source, they can develop and spread in different ways. There are typically five unique classes of fires: Class A, B, C, D, and K. These relate to the type of fuel that sustains the fire.
The hazards that come with trying to deal with fires aren’t just from the direct flames. You also have to deal with smoke, structural collapse, and, interestingly, chemical hazards.
That’s right. Even putting out fires can be a dangerous business. Some extinguishers, such as the ones used to put out liquid fires (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) can pose serious health risks in the form of cancer.
This is why you often hear stories of firefighters filing AFFF foam lawsuit cases. These are people who have been adversely affected by being exposed to the toxic chemicals in them.
According to TorHoerman Law, these chemicals fall under the deadly ‘PFAS’ or forever chemicals category, which adds a whole layer of complexity to firefighting efforts. Thus, fires are not simple situations to deal with.
If you end up getting caught in a building on fire, it can be one of the most overwhelming experiences of your life. Knowing how to assess the situation and responding with the right state of mind is key.
Let’s explore further.
Avoid Playing the Superhero
During emergency situations like a fire, it’s natural to be worried about the safety of others in the building. However, this is not the time to play superhero.
While your intentions behind wanting to help during a fire may be noble, it can also be incredibly dangerous. Fires are unpredictable and can escalate rapidly, leading to conditions that are hazardous even for trained professionals.
Without proper training and equipment, individuals attempting to play superhero may inadvertently put themselves and others at greater risk. In a sense, responding to a fire can be as intensive as dealing with any other major emergency.
Sure, the fires you respond to might not be on the scale of a natural disaster, but the same tips that the CDC recommends apply. Essentially, you want to stay calm and know your limits in terms of what you can and can’t do. The last thing you want is to feel like it’s your responsibility to save the building or all the people stuck inside.
You are responsible for your life and that of your dependents. There’s no point in putting yourself in harm’s way when it isn’t your responsibility. Find safety as quickly as possible, and let the firefighters arrive and do their job.
Stay Present and Avoid Catastrophic Thinking
Fire emergencies can induce intense fear, anxiety, and stress, making it challenging for individuals to maintain composure and make rational decisions. While mindfulness and grounding sound ideal, you probably aren’t in the headspace to close your eyes and start taking deep breaths.
That’s perfectly alright, but you still need to focus on the mission ahead of you- find safety and escape. Try to use your senses to anchor yourself in the present moment and divert attention away from anxious thoughts.
Something that might help is to focus on tactile sensations by touching objects around you. This can be particularly helpful if there’s a lot of smoke and you can’t really see properly.
If the smoke is truly thick, remember that you should crawl on the floor even if you are physically unharmed and able to walk. This is because smoke rises and breathable air is found close to the ground. It’s easy to forget these things in the chaos, which is why you need to stay present and in the moment.
In conclusion, fires are not the rarest of dangers that people have to face today. Data shows that there were over 994 fires in just the first month of this year. 2023 saw over 55,571 fires, which is a mind-boggling figure. Fires can happen anywhere at any time, especially if the conditions are conducive.
Thus, understanding the diverse classes of fires becomes critical for us to navigate the multifaceted nature of fire management. It’s also useful to remember that survival often hinges not only on physical preparedness but also on mental resilience.
This means your ability to remain calm, focused, and grounded can mean the difference between life and death.