The flames of a fire are not as dangerous as the byproducts developing from the fire. Heated gases (fire smoke) and panic cause death long before the flames get you. In order to survive you must learn to avoid smoke and panic.

If you smell the smoke or if you see smoke it does not necessarily mean that there is a fire, a matress e.g. just glowing develops a very poisonous gas. Smoke can spread by the ventilation, which means that the fire is not necessarily on the same floor as you. Your first reaction when you smell fire smoke should be to leave the building and put yourself in safety.

Hot fire smoke rises towards the ceiling, but slowly it becomes heavier and heavier the further it gets from the fire and finally it lowers towards the floor. Then you cannot see the emergency signs; therefore there are emergency lines drawn close to the floor.

You have the cleanest air at the floor, go down on your knees and crawl towards the emergency exit. Remember to stay at the wall on the same side as your room door; it is very easy to be desorientated in a smoke-filled environment. If you crawl on the opposite side it is easy to loose the orientation and loose the direction. If you crawl in the middle you risk to collide with other persons fleeing in panic.

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