When you move into a condo, you'll often receive a notification about how you're supposed to act when the building's fire alarm sounds. It's pretty simple — you're expected to drop what you're doing and go outside. There, you'll wait with other condo residents until you receive a signal that it's safe to return to your unit. Even though the process is straightforward, there are often people who fail to follow the rules, which could have troubling consequences. Here are some mistakes that you should seek to avoid when you hear the fire alarm sound.
Ignore The Alarm
You might be tempted to dismiss a ringing fire alarm as being a false alarm or perhaps even a fire drill that you weren't aware of. This can especially be tempting when the alarm rings at night when you're in bed. However, it's a bad idea to stay in your unit. If there is indeed a fire, your failure to exit the building in a timely manner could result in your injury or even your death. Additionally, your decision to remain in your unit could complicate things for the fire department in the case of a fire. For example, instead of focusing on extinguishing the fire, the firefighters would also have to rescue you.
Gather Up Possessions Before Exiting
If the fire alarm sounds in the middle of the winter, it may be prudent to quickly grab some warm clothing and a jacket before you exit the building. In other cases, scurrying around your condo to gather up possessions to carry out with you is a bad idea. For example, you might want to take electronics, valuables, and other possessions outside with you. Delaying your exit is dangerous, and trying to navigate the stairs of your building while your arms are full of your possessions can slow you down and potentially block the path of others.
Hop In The Elevator
It's a general rule to take the stairs when the building's fire alarm is ringing. If you're on an upper floor, however, you might not like the idea. Don't make the mistake of hopping into the elevator and attempting to ride down to the ground floor. If the elevator were to stop for any reason — perhaps there's a real fire that affects the electricity in the building — you would be trapped and people may not even know your whereabouts. You're better off taking the stairs, even if the trek down is longer than you'd like.
For more information, contact a business such as Eastern Fire.
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