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Travel Tip: Hotel Fire Safety

Audio Travel Tips, Hotels & Accommodations, Natural Disasters, Safety & Security, Travel Tips — on January 17, 2012 5:17 am
Travel Tip: Hotel Fire Safety

Do you know how to prepare yourself in case of a hotel fire? Well, I’m not just a frequent traveler; I’m also a volunteer firefighter, so I’ve got some tips for you.

Preparation starts at check-in. There’s not a fire department in the country that can easily fight a fire above the eighth floor, so ask for a lower floor. Find out what kind of fire safety devices are in place. Every hotel should have hard-wired, single-station smoke detectors in each guestroom. Those more than three stories should have an automatic sprinkler system with a head in each room.

Check the US Fire Association Web site for a database of fire-safe hotels. You know the map on the door that show the nearest exits? It’s there for a reason. Then, I want you to actually find those exits. You should be able to locate at least two exits, in case one is blocked, and count how many doors there are between your room and the exits.

Keep your room key and a small flashlight in your shoes by your bed, in case you have to make a quick escape. Bottom line: a hotel fire is serious business, but there are steps you can take to make sure you’re as prepared as possible.

Get more tips on hotel safety with What To Do In a Hotel Emergency.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.

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  • Terry Reagan

    Very true.  It’s amazing the difference that just a minute or two spent on emergency preparation once one is in your new hotel room can actually make.  and remember, in an emergency, never leave your room without your key.  You never know if you might have to return.  Fires are not the only consideration.  Last year I was in a hotel in Chile in an 8.8 earthquake.  There are any number of other types of emergencies.  Regular travelers know that you can flop down on the bed and turn on the TV only once you’ve made your orientation checks.