Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FIRE
In the event of a fire, there are several things that you should do. Remem-
ber, the time to plan for this contingency is the moment you ask for a room
on the second floor. By now you have already counted the number of doors
between your room and the nearest stairwell, as described above. You also
have noted the position of the fire alarms and extinguishers, if any. If you
have elected to stay in a reputable hotel, there probably will be an active
sprinkler system as well as smoke detectors. These systems can alert you to
the presence of a fire or smoke before the actual alarm is even sounded. It
is good practice to carry your own smoke detectors that also can detect the
presence of carbon monoxide in the area. You always can check whether
the detector installed in your room is working by pressing the test button.
However, there is no way for you to check whether the unit is as sensitive
to the presence of smoke as devices manufactured in the United States. In
any event, it is unlikely that the hotel-installed smoke detector will protect
against carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, it is a good idea to use
your own and gain peace of mind. Take extra batteries with you, and store
the detector in your checked luggage with the batteries out of the unit.
In the event of a fire, never open the door unless you have physically
felt it and the knob to see whether they are hot. If the door and knob are
hot, you can assume that there is fire in the hallway outside of your door.
Opening the door will cause the flames to rush into your room as a new
source of oxygen becomes available. The air that will be drawn in is most
likely toxic and is certain to be superheated. Inhaling in such an atmos-
phere will bring the high temperature air into your lungs and will burn
them. If the door and knob are hot, turn the water on in the bathtub and
wet all the sheets and towels you can. Fill the tub with water. You are in
immediate danger from smoke inhalation, which can suffocate you even
if the flames never get near you. Place the wet towels on the floor below
the door to prevent smoke from coming in. Seal any other cracks as well.
Try the phone. If the call goes through, tell the desk that you are trapped
in your room and give your name and room number. Obviously, if you are
on the second floor, this is the appropriate time to open the window and
jump or climb to safety. If you are on a higher floor, you should wait as
long as possible to see if rescue equipment is being brought to the scene.
Open your window and place a white sheet or towel outside. This is a uni-
versally recognized distress sign and will alert rescue personnel to your
