This seemingly ordinary action can truly make a difference in an emergency. In the event of a fire, toxic smoke, or intrusion, simply closing a door can serve as an essential protective barrier to save lives. Discover why this small gesture can have a major impact in various scenarios.
Fire Safety: The Importance of Keeping the Door Closed
It’s crucial to know that a fire can spread rapidly, doubling in size every 30 seconds. In just moments, flames and smoke can engulf an entire living space.
Why is closing the door beneficial?
– It slows the spread of fire: A closed door can contain flames for around 20 minutes, giving you precious time to call for help or find an exit.
– It blocks harmful smoke: Most fire-related deaths are due to smoke inhalation rather than flames. Closing the door can cut the amount of smoke entering the room by half, giving you more time to react.
– It reduces heat: A room with a closed door can stay around 20°C, while an open one can reach over 600°C in minutes.
Safety tip: In addition to closing the door, installing a smoke detector in your bedroom and hallway can be life-saving in the event of a fire.
Protection from Toxic Smoke
During a fire, toxic gases released from burning furniture, carpets, and plastics pose a major threat — often greater than the heat itself.
Main toxic gases to be aware of:
– Carbon monoxide (CO): An invisible and odorless gas that can cause fatal poisoning without warning.
– Hydrogen cyanide: Released when plastics burn, it can lead to rapid unconsciousness and be deadly within minutes.
A closed door acts as an effective barrier, limiting the spread of these toxic gases and significantly increasing chances of survival.
Extra tip: Installing a carbon monoxide detector is highly recommended, especially if you use gas heating or a fireplace.
Protection from Intrusions and Burglaries