Tips for Alaska Tourists: How to Survive a Hotel Fire
Even if you are safety-conscious about fire prevention at home, you might be less concerned with fires when traveling for vacation, personal, or business purposes. You expect that the hotel is up to code and takes all precautions to protect guests, but the US Fire Administration (USFA) reports some disturbing statistics. Every year, there are around 3,900 hotel and motel fires, leading to 15 fatalities and around 100 injuries to victims. Cooking is a top cause of fires in hotels, and not just in those with restaurants. Many guests try to prepare meals in their rooms using available appliances like microwaves and toasters.
You probably have an escape plan for your family if there is a fire at home, but things are different when you are a tourist in an unfamiliar place. A different set of safety tips applies for evacuating and avoiding harm. An Alaska tourist injuries attorney can assist with legal options if you were hurt, though some recommendations on surviving a hotel fire are crucial.
Safety Tips for Hotel Fires
Some advice you can use even before arriving is checking out the facility’s website and reading online reviews about attention to fire safety, if any. You should also find out what fire prevention systems are in place in common areas and each individual room, such as smoke detectors, sprinklers, tools for breaking glass, and other features. When you check in to an Anchorage hotel, review the following details about fire safety:
- Ask the front desk clerk what to expect if the fire alarm sounds, like a bell, siren, or voice instructions.
- As you approach your room, make note of the two closest exits in both directions.
- Count the number of doors between your room and these exits, which is helpful for evacuations in darkness.
- Make sure exit doors are unlocked and alert the front desk if they are locked.
- Locate all fire alarms on your floor in case you need to activate them.
Fire Safety in Your Hotel Room
If you are in your room when a fire breaks out, especially at night, some additional tips include:
- There will be a fire evacuation plan posted inside your room, on the back of the door. Review it carefully for evacuation routes.
- When sleeping, keep your room key on your bedside table and take it with you if you need to evacuate. It may access areas that you need to pass through to get out.
- If the fire alarm goes off, leave immediately, closing all interior doors and the main door.
- Never attempt to use an elevator in a fire.
- If you encounter smoke while evacuating, crawl below it and close to the ground to your exit.
Discuss Remedies With an Anchorage Tourist Injuries Lawyer
Hotels have a duty to keep guests safe, so they can be held accountable for harm caused by a fire. To learn about your options, please contact Power & Power Law. You can set up a free consultation at our offices in Anchorage, Alaska, by calling 907-222-9990 or going online.