If you are caught in a house fire:
- Crawl low under smoke. DO NOT stand up in the smoke. Smoke may harm or kill well before a fire spreads.
- Crawl on your hands and knees with your arms straight and elbows locked. DO NOT get too low by crawling on your stomach.
- Feel doors gently with the back of your hand before touching a door handle. They may be hot.
- Close doors behind you to slow the spread of a fire.
- Remember: Get out and stay out. DO NOT go back inside for possessions or pets.
- Call Triple Zero (000) when you are out and clear of the fire. Wait at your safe meeting place for firefighters to arrive.
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000)
Only call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency which is either life threatening or where time is critical.
- Ask for Fire, Police or Ambulance
- Stay calm. Don’t shout, and speak slowly and clearly.
- When asked give the State you live in, street number, street name, suburb, nearest cross street.
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National Relay Service
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, there are six ways of contacting emergency services:
- By TTY – dial 106
- By internet relay – and ask for Triple Zero (000)
- By captioned relay – and ask for Triple Zero (000)
- By SMS relay – text 0423 677 767
- By video relay – login to Skype and contact one of the NRS contact names
- By ordinary phone – dial 1800 555 727 and ask for Triple Zero (000).
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Hot tips
- Remember: Get out and stay out. Get out of a house on fire as quick as possible. Don’t go back inside for possessions or pets.
- If you can’t crawl, try to stay low, under the smoke. The higher you are in smoke, the greater the risk.
- Practice crawling low when you practice your home fire escape plan.
- Tell fire services if any person or pet is unaccounted for. Firefighters may ask where in the house they might be.
- Make sure your children know what an alarm sounds like and what to do if it goes off.
- You should always call Triple Zero (000) only when you are out of the house and away from the fire, even if you suspect neighbours may have called.
If your clothes catch on fire:
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STOP what you are doing right away. Cover your face with your hands.
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DROP gently to your knees, then lie down on the part of your clothes that are on fire.
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ROCK AND ROLL back and forth on the ground until your clothes stop burning.
If you are burnt:
- Remove any clothing or jewellery from near the burn carefully, unless it is stuck to the skin.
- Cool the burn for at least 20 minutes under cool gently running water. DO NOT use any ice or ointments.
- Cover the burn with a clean dressing or towel.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible or for burns larger than a 20 cent coin. For serious burns call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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