Firefighter reveals what to do if you're caught in a house-fire...

House fires are something you don't think will happen to you. But with the recent Norwood family tragedy that claimed the lives of a mom and her two children... It highlights the reality of the devastation fire can cause to anyone of us...

I was surprised to read this statistic: 55% of fire deaths happen in suburban areas, compared to about 18% in squatter camps (undeveloped areas). Although the damage to property is much higher in the latter case.

The reason for the high number of deaths in suburban areas is our security systems... They trap us in the inferno... Read on below.

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Firefighter reveals what to do if you're caught in a house-fire...

When we sleep, we lose our sense of smell to a large extent. So by the time we realise what's happening, it's often too late.

The speed at which the flames consume everything in their path in an average sized bedroom is around just three minutes. In that time, the contents of a room reach "flash over" point (the temperature at which ignition occurs). And, by that time the room will be filled with thick poisonous smoke.

The biggest culprits for house fires are:

• Leaving a computer on overnight and the fan burns out causing it to overheat
• Charges left plugged into the sockets
• Fax machines, TVs, washing machines, stoves and ovens...

Be sure to turn everything off and unplug your electronic devices before you go to sleep.

What to do if you're caught in a house-fire...

If you're ever caught in a house fire, get on all fours and crawl to an exit as fast as you can. Don't try to save any possessions (regardless of what they are), just get out fast!

Wrap yourself up in a blanket and throw yourself out of a window if you can't open a door. Don't try to retrieve your keys in the next room because at waist level, the keys will have burnt into the wall in 12 minutes.

Once you're out don't try and go back in to retrieve anything or sadly anyone, as the chances of getting back out are near impossible.

Prevent a tragedy in your home...

Seeing that we can't strip our homes of all the locks and burglar bars, the best thing to do is install smoke alarms. They will buy you time if you're ever in a fire.

Switch everything off at the plugs and take the plugs out of the sockets.

Rehearse an escape route with your children in case of an emergency, designate an area in the garden to meet, away from the garage...

And place a small fire extinguisher in each bedroom.

For more tips and advice on safety, click here!

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