If your clothes catch fire during a fire, you should not run – this will only intensify the flames. You should stop and try to remove your clothes as quickly as possible. If this is not possible, fall to the ground or floor and sway to knock down the flames. Protect your eyes and face with hands.
If another person's clothes catch fire during a fire. You should know that a burning person never stands still, but moves in complex trajectories.
Therefore, the first step is to securely fix the person on the ground. Use methods such as knocking down, pushing, or tripping — the main goal is to make person fall, providing the opportunity to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.
Clothing should be removed from a burning person only within a few seconds after ignition. Otherwise, you risk causing severe injuries by removing melted clothing along with burnt skin.
How to extinguish burning clothing on a person:
- Pour water over the burning person.
- Cover the person with earth, sand or snow.
- Cover the burning person with a thick cloth (for example, a blanket, coat, etc., but not synthetics, which melts and causes even more damage).
- Always ensure the person's head is uncovered when extinguishing the flames, otherwise, he/she may suffocate.
- If none of the above methods are available, the only option left is to roll the burning person on the ground in an attempt to smother the flames. However, do not let the person stand up, as running will increase oxygen flow and reignite the fire with greater intensity. As a result, when person rises, it will not only burn clothes, but also burn the face and upper respiratory tract, as well as hair.
Once the flames are extinguished, immediately call for emergency medical assistance 103 via Translator SL application, and stay with the victim at all times.
