In the event of a fire
What to do in the event of a fire depends on the situation. Information about evacuation routes, the location of fire extinguishers, fire alarm buttons and assembly points can be found on the Emergency Evacuation Plans placed strategically in all buildings at Lund University.
RESCUE Save people who are in immediate danger - help each other! Be aware of the safety risks: do not expose yourself to unnecessary danger.
ALERT Alert those around you about the fire, or that the fire alarm has gone off. Urge people around your to start evacuating.
RAISE THE ALARM Call the emergency services: SOS Alarm by dialing 112 (or 0112 if you are calling from a university line) and answer the operator’s questions. Calling 112 enables the right resources to be sent to the location. If possible, inform the University security control center at +46 46 222 07 00. The security officer can help you in an evacuation and initiate Lund University’s emergency procedures if necessary.
EXTINGUISH All fires start small - acting quickly makes a big difference. Extinguish the fire if you think you can do so, but remember your own safety.
EVACUATE Evacuate the building via the nearest smoke-free evacuation route and head for the assembly point. Close any doors behind you to minimise the spread of fire and smoke. Lifts must never be used for evacuation.
PROCEED TO THE ASSEMBLY POINT The building’s assembly point (återsamlingsplats in Swedish) is stated on the Emergency Evacuation Plan. If you have information about what happened in the building, e.g. that the there are still people inside or where the fire is located, it is important that you notify the University security officer or the emergency services immediately. Just because the alarm has been switched off, does not necessarily mean that the danger is over. The emergency services may silence the alarm to facilitate their work in the building. Therefore, never return to the building before receiving permission to do so.
KEEP IN MIND!
Does anyone need help evacuating? The stairwells often constitute safe zones in case of fire. In such places, people with reduced mobility or orientation can await help from the emergency services.
Fire extinguishers and prevention work
In order for a fire to start there must be combustible material (fuel), oxygen and heat. The fire will go out if one of these three factors is removed.
Fire extinguishers
Different types of fire extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing fires of different materials. This is why suitable fire extinguishers are placed in strategic locations in the building. The fire extinguisher’s location is marked with a sign and stated on the Emergency Evacuation Plan. A large hand-held fire extinguisher (5-10 kg) empties in 20-30 seconds and can reach up to 3-4 meters. It is therefore important to know how it should be used in order for it to be effective.
How to use the fire extinguisher
- Carry the extinguisher by the lower handle and remove the safety pin by pulling the rig straight out
- Bend down and get as close to the fire as possible
- Hold the mouthpiece firmly and aim it at the base of the fire
- Release the extinguisher’s content by pressing down the upper handle
Different fire extinguishers
Powder extinguishers puts out most types of fires and are very effective. The disadvantages are that powder makes a mess and is difficult to clean up - but so do fires. You should therefore avoid using powder extinguishers in rooms with sensitive equipment. Powder does not conduct electricity, which means that you can extinguish fires in electrical equipment.
Foam extinguishers are effective on fires in fibrous material (e.g. wood, paper and textiles) and on burning fluids. The foam lies on top of the fire, putting it out and cooling it down. The foam then remains as protection from reigniting. Just like water, foam conducts electricity, meaning that foam and water are thus not suitable for extinguishing burning electrical equipment.
Contains carbon dioxide gas that extinguishes fire quick and clean, but is poor at putting out embers. When putting out fires with CO2 the fire can reignite before the burnt object has had a chance to cool. CO2 does not conduct electricity and is therefore used to extinguish fires in electrical equipment. CO2 is very cold and should thus not be used for putting out fires in clothing.
Used on fires in fibrous materials. Water is poor at extinguishing fires in petroleum products because these fluids float on top of water. Water conducts electricity so it is thus not suitable for extinguishing burning electrical equipment. It can be extremely dangerous to try and extinguish hot oils with water.