St John advises people caught in fire on what they can do

The National National

THE St John Ambulance has advised people caught in a fire inside a house to try to crawl to the nearest exit if possible.
Chief executive officer Matt Cannon said St John officers had attended to the fire that gutted the National Broadcasting Corporation flats on Tanatana Street in Boroko, Port Moresby last Friday.
“Our deepest condolences to the family at this tragic time,” Cannon said.
“This was a tragic reminder about the deadly consequences of fires.” A boy aged four and his sister aged six died in the fire. He advised people caught in a fire to:

  • GET down on your hands and knees;
  • CRAWL to the nearest exit – getting low means you are below the poisonous smoke; and,
  • SHUT the door behind you to stop the spread of fire and smoke.

The St John ambulance officers managed to attend to two people who were able to make it out alive but were in shock and suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.
Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the fire.