Here's What You Should Do If You Ever Witness A Fire In Malaysia
Always be prepared. You might just save a life.
By Tamara Jayne
Fires can occur at any point in time, trapping people or animals in buildings and homes. It's important to take note of what to do in case a fire breaks out.
It can be a life or death situation, giving you a small window of opportunity to act.
First and foremost, stay calm at all times, as this will help you think clearly about what to do.
1. If you're inside the building and the fire alarm has not gone off, pull or 'break the glass' of the nearest one you can find to alert anyone inside
If you're outside of the building or there isn't any fire alarm, yell 'fire' as loud as possible several times. This will allow anyone inside the house or building to have enough time to escape to safety.
2. Call 999 (Emergency hotline) to report the location of the incident
Often we might find spectators pulling out their phones to take videos or photos of the fire instead of calling the bomba.
Make sure that the Fire and Rescue Department is alerted first and on their way, as there could be people trapped inside the building or house that we cannot see from the outside. Never assume that someone has already called the department.
4. Don't enter the building. If there are civilians attempting to go in, try to prevent them from doing so.
Some people may have loved ones trapped inside and may not be thinking rationally at that moment.
It's important to try to get them to assemble at a safe distance from the fire and assure them that the authorities are on their way.
5. If you're inside the building and the fire is small (wastebasket size or less), use a fire extinguisher but only if you know how to and it's safe to do so; otherwise, get out
How to use a fire extinguisher:
1. Pull out the safety pin from the handle
2. Aim the nozzle, cone, or horn at the base of the fire
3. Sweep from side to side
