Listen: While most of us barely notice the safety procedures in hotel rooms, Tony takes it seriously, and he advises us to do the same.
By Salt 106.5 TeamWednesday 16 Oct 2024The Morning Wake-up with JordanaChristmasReading Time: 3 minutes
Going on holiday?
Key points
- “There’s no such thing as a safe area.”
- In the same way we keep tabs on smoke alarms at home, we need to check them when we’re away.
- Identify emergency exits and escape routes and to plan how you and your family would exit in the event of a fire.
- It’s imperative that kids know what to do, should there be a fire.
While a family trip away during the school holidays is as classic as the Big Pineapple itself, Queensland families are often more focused on keeping their possessions safe or protecting themselves from the sun than they are about fire safety.
Yet, the risk of fire is just as real while travelling as it is at home.
Make sure you review your accommodation safety procedures, so you know what to do if something goes wrong, said Tony Talbot, Victoria State Manager at Brooks Australia when he caught up with Salt 106.5’s Jordana.
“I suppose the biggest misconception is they’re going into an area, it may be a holiday area and it’s safe,” he said.
“There’s no such thing as a safe area.”
There are three things Tony says we should all do, when we go away.
“There’s no such thing as a safe area.”
1. Check smoke alarms
“Fires can happen for whatever reasons, whether it’s an Airbnb or a house or a motel, don’t just assume everything works,” Tony said, explaining that in the same way we keep tabs on smoke alarms at home, we need to check them when we’re away.
“I walk into a hotel or a motel and I press the fire test button and I’ve got the rest of my family doing that as they travel,” he said.
Be sure to gently push the test button and hold for approximately 10 seconds until you hear it beep.
And don’t forget to locate smoke alarms, emergency exits and the fire extinguishers or blankets.
In the same way we keep tabs on smoke alarms at home, we need to check them when we’re away.
2. Familiarize yourself with fire safety procedures
While most of us barely even notice the safety procedures pinned to the wall or door of hotel rooms, Tony takes it seriously, and he advises us to do the same.
“Take a moment, have a look at them, familiarise yourself with them.”
Identify emergency exits and escape routes and to plan how you and your family would exit in the event of a fire.
Establish a meeting point outside where everyone can gather safely.
Identify emergency exits and escape routes and to plan how you and your family would exit in the event of a fire.
3. Prepare a mini emergency kit for unexpected situations
“Always travel with a mini emergency kit,” Tony advises.
“A lot of people put a little bit of first aid stuff in there and a little bit of cash because you just don’t know.”
Some suggestions include: a torch to help you navigate smoke or during a power outage, extra batteries to keep your torch and other devices ready to go, portable phone charger to ensure your phone stays charged for emergency calls and of course first-aid supplies including bandages, burn cream, and pain relief for minor injuries.
It’s imperative that kids know what to do, should there be a fire.
4. Include and prepare children for fire safety to avoid panic.
It’s imperative that kids know what to do, should there be a fire. Especially when away from home, Tony said.
“If there’s a fire here, [kids need to know] I need to go out this way and discuss that with your kids because your kids will panic if there actually is a fire.”
Make sure they know the escape routes and the emergency meeting place.
To learn more about fire safety at brooks.com.au
Listen to the full conversation in the player above.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro