What is your evacuation plan in a case of fire or explosion at the university?

You need to have your own evacuation plan, if something happens, you will be ready to help yourself.

Hazards during the fire:

1. The impact of the toxic combustion products. The main cause of the people`s death in the fires is carbon monoxide poisoning.
This is a dangerous substance, which reacts with hemoglobin in blood in 200-300 times more active than oxygen, so that the body is not supplied with oxygen. In 50-80% of deaths in the fires caused by carbon monoxide poisoning and lack of oxygen. We should pay the particular attention to the burning of synthetic materials, which are widely used in the modern offices and apartments. They do not burn just fine, but also secrete a whole range of highly toxic substances. Moreover, burning, they emit the toxic substances present – up to 100 species.

2. The reduced oxygen concentration in the fire area. In a case of fire, in the combustion of the various substances and materials, the concentration of oxygen in the room is reduced (norm – 22-24%). Lowering the oxygen concentration of only 3% of the norm causes the deterioration of the motor functions.

3. The high temperature of the environment. Staying on the fire with an ambient temperature of 70° C for 25-30 minutes is dangerous, because it causes the burn of the respiratory tract. At a temperature of 140° C and an oxygen content of 6° the death can occur within minutes.

4. Outdoor fire. Firstly, in the hearth burns all the property; second, it destroys the construction (especially wooden); third, the fire causes burns.

5. The falling of the building structures. Collapse of the building structures exposed to fire can result in the death or maiming people, who find themselves in the areas covered by fire.

Effects of the explosion

1. Air shock wave. When the explosions happens, the shock wave is as a region of the strong compression of the air, which has a mechanical action (pressure, destruction) for the surrounding bodies, causing people to various injuries (contusions, sprains, fractures, contusions). In addition to the direct action of the shock wave, it causes the indirect injuries by the rubble of the destroyed buildings.

2. Fragmental fields. The defeat of the people is the result of the fragments separation  and “stuffing” of the explosive device, as well as flying debris of various kinds of the building structures, glass and so on.

Actions in a case of fire and explosion

• Call “911”.

• Do not enter to the zone of smoke, if the visibility is less than 10 m.

• In extremely smoky environment you need to move by crawling or crouching, respiratory close by the damp cloth.

• Before you enter into a burning room, cover your head with a wet piece of thick fabric, coat, raincoat.

• The door to the indoor smoke should be open carefully to avoid flares from the rapid inflow of air.

• If your clothes are on fire, you need to lie on the floor (ground), and rolling, put out the fire or throw on yourself the coat, cloak, and press firmly to stop the flow of air to the fire.

• When extinguishing the fire, use fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, water, sand, and other handy tools.

• When a vertical surface is burning, the water supplied to the upper part of it.

• Extinguishing things guide not in the places of the most intense burning and not at the flames, but on the burning surface.

• When it`s the inevitable explosion, quickly lie down on the floor and cover the head with your hands (at this position the shock wave impact is reduced by about 6 times).

• Do not panic, be alert and attentive. Beware of falling the plaster, the building structures. Stay away from windows, mirrors, light fixtures.

• Try as quickly as possible to go out and move away from the building. When you are leaving the building, do not use the elevator, and use the emergency exits, external and other ladders.

Safe places in the building, when there is an explosion:

o junction of the bearing structures (floor and walls);

o the doorways in the load-bearing walls.

Dangerous places in the building, when there is an explosion:

Elevator, staircases, hanging constructions, ceilings, attics, floors with large cracks, glazed surface (windows, balconies, mirrors, cabinets, doors).