Essential escape skills to know in case of a fire.

When a fire occurs, the first thing to do is remain calm, and then follow the steps below.

1. Clearly design and define which is the main entrance and which is the secondary entrance. If a fire breaks out and blocks the main exit, you won't panic because there's a secondary exit to escape through.

2. Create a safe escape route. When your house is on fire, your only thought should be to get out as quickly as possible. Don't hesitate to try and grab your belongings or documents. Staying to call the fire department wastes precious time that could be used to escape the fire. It's best to get out, borrow a neighbor's phone, or ask them to call.

3. Train all family members and domestic helpers in fire safety and firefighting skills.

4. If your house has two or more floors, buy a portable ladder. In case of an emergency, you can escape through the window without fear of falling, but make sure everyone in the house knows where the ladder is and how to use it.

5. If you live in a high-rise building or apartment complex, in the event of a fire, never use the elevator to go downstairs because you know how chaotic things can be during an emergency, and you could easily get trapped inside the elevator due to a power outage.

6. Determine a meeting point beforehand – a safe place outside the house where everyone can gather and check that all family members have evacuated.

7. Remember that not only fire but also smoke and toxic fumes can be fatal; they can knock you down before the flames reach you. To avoid suffocation from smoke, move out by crawling, holding a baby close to your stomach with one hand.

8. If your hair or clothes catch fire, stop, lie down, and roll back and forth or in a circle. Don't forget to teach your children this technique. If you are next to your child when their clothes catch fire, quickly grab a blanket and cover them to extinguish the flames.

9. Before throwing open the front door, check the doorknob to see if it's too hot. If the doorknob is hot due to the raging fire behind it, escape through another door. Those living on the first floor can escape through the windows. For those living on upper floors, while they can't jump to the ground through the windows, they can climb out, take shelter from the fire on the roof, and be easily found by firefighters.

10. Teach your children where to hide if they get trapped in a room. Instruct them to crawl under the bed and lie flat on the floor, as the space under the bed is often the first place firefighters look when searching for trapped people.

11. If you have to cross a smoke-filled corridor while escaping, lie down and crawl. The lower you are and the closer you are to the door, the better the air will be.

According to VOV