Tips from the fire department

What do I do if there is a fire? How do I protect myself from flooding? What should I put in my first-aid kit? The fire department answers these and other questions. So you are well prepared.

Caution - Dangerous safety - Danger to life on icy surfaces

After a lot of frost, there are large areas of ice on ponds in the city. Now it's getting warmer. The ice is becoming weak. As temperatures rise, dangerous cracks appear in the ice. The ice looks stable, but suddenly breaks. You have no chance.

Follow these safety instructions from the Bad Homburg fire department.

• Do not go onto icy surfaces.
• Explain the dangers to children.
• Observe warnings and prohibitions.
• Cracking noises mean danger.
• In the event of an accident on the ice, call 112 immediately.
• Use scarves, branches or similar items to help. Distribute your own weight on the ice.
• For example, move lying flat.
• Carefully keep the rescued person warm.

You attach your smoke detectors horizontally:

• on the ceiling in the middle of the room. At least 50 cm away from the walls.
• not at the top of the roof. At least 30 to 50 cm downwards.
• not in rooms with a lot of steam, dust or smoke. For example, in the bathroom.
• not in the vicinity of air ducts. Not in a draughty environment.

Behavior in case of fire

When there is a fire, the right behavior is important. Here are some tips:

At the scene of the accident:

• Stay calm
• Call the fire department on 112. Tell them who you are, what has happened, where it has happened and how many people are affected. Wait for questions
• If you cannot report the fire, do so immediately after leaving the building
• Keep windows and doors to the fire room closed
• Warn other people in the building
• If you cannot leave the room, seal cracks with wet cloths
• Make yourself noticed at the window
  

Leave the building:

• Leave the danger zone quickly via the stairwell and escape routes
• Do not use elevators
• Help people who need help to leave the building
• Close the doors behind you
• Listen to the instructions of fire safety assistants
• Show the emergency services the way

When you are safe:

• Only extinguish the fire if you are not putting yourself in danger
• Saving lives is more important than putting out fires. Warn family and housemates. Help visitors who are not familiar with the area. Avoid panic and reassure anxious people

Behavior during thunderstorms

How to behave correctly,
when it thunders and flashes:

Outdoors:

• Do not go to high places or objects such as trees or towers. Lightning can strike any tree.
• Keep your distance from other people and objects. They can be struck by lightning.
• Crouch down with your feet together. Place your arms close to your body and bend your head forward.

Buildings with lightning conductors provide good protection. Nevertheless, the following applies in houses:

• Do not touch any metal cables that lead into the building from outside. They must be properly earthed.
• Do not take a bath or shower.
• Do not use unprotected telephone systems.
• Do not use elevators. They could get stuck.

The metal bodywork of vehicles protects the occupants. Nevertheless, caution is important: heavy rain or hail can impair visibility. Traffic lights can fail. Drive carefully or park and wait until the storm has passed.

If you are surprised by a thunderstorm while exercising outdoors and cannot quickly reach a building
or a vehicle quickly, keep this in mind:

• Stop playing on golf courses immediately.
• When playing ball games on a field, find a safe shelter.
• Put objects such as sticks or sports equipment out of your hand.
• Plan ahead when practicing water sports. Leave the water and the shore area if a thunderstorm is approaching.

The emergency pharmacy

Many accidents happen at home. An emergency first-aid kit can help. The German Green Cross says that you should have these things:

• Instructions for first aid
• Bandages and compresses
• Disposable gloves, scissors, disinfectant, tweezers
• Ointments for wounds and pain
• Clinical thermometer
• Remedies for colds
• Remedies for stomach problems
• Medication for cramps
• Ointments for itching and tablets for allergies
• Charcoal and remedies for poisoning
• personal medication

The emergency pharmacy should be kept in a fixed, dry place. Important: Check the items once a year.

Traffic accident - the rescue lane

In a traffic accident, every minute counts for the emergency services. Onlookers or incorrect behavior often disrupt the work. A rescue lane is mandatory in Germany. Here's how to do it right:

• Form the lane in slow-moving traffic. Slow down and drive to the side of the road
• In two lanes: Vehicles on the left drive to the left, vehicles on the right drive to the right
• If there are three or more lanes: Rescue lane between the left lane and the lane to the right of it
• Keep the emergency lane open until traffic is flowing again

Flood protection

If flooding or heavy rain threatens, these tips will help:

Before the flood:

• Get sandbags and waterproof plywood sheets.
• Store hazardous materials and chemicals so that they do not come into contact with water.
• Move valuable appliances and furniture to higher floors.
• Pack a bag with the most important documents and have it ready.
• Anchor the heating oil tank to the wall or weigh it down against buoyancy caused by water.
• Stock up on drinking water and food.
• Coordinate signs with neighbors to ensure communication in the event of a phone or internet outage.
• Pay attention to current information and weather reports on the radio, internet or television.

During the flood:

• Stay calm.
• Seal windows, doors and drain openings.
• Switch off electrical appliances and heaters.
• Switch off fuses, if possible, due to the risk of electric shock.
• Empty the cellar.
• Check backwater flaps.
• Do not drive through flooded streets.
• Help others if it is safe to do so.
• Do not enter river banks.
• Follow the instructions of the emergency services.

After the flood:

• Take photos of the damage for the insurance company.
• Only pump out water when the groundwater level has dropped sufficiently.
• Dry rooms quickly to avoid mold.
• Have the electrics checked by a specialist.

Avoiding accidents - what you can do to protect yourself

The fire department will help if there are problems. But you can also protect yourself.

Private emergency preparedness

• A long power cut or a lot of snow can mean that there is little food available. Therefore, have enough food and drink in the house for many days.
• Even if there is little water: Wash your hands. This is important for cleanliness and health.
• Have a first-aid kit. Check often whether everything is there and whether the medication is still good.
• Always have important papers to hand. Tell your family where they are.
• A fire extinguisher belongs in every house and every car.
• Never leave open fires and candles alone.
• Take warnings seriously. For example from the KATWARN disaster warning system.
• Get help if you need it.

The prevention center of the Bad Homburg fire department
We provide information in our prevention center at Dietigheimer Straße 12. It's about self-protection and how to avoid fires. We often offer training courses. These are for companies, kindergartens, schools and other institutions.
We have a training center for children, schoolchildren and senior citizens. There we practise real emergency situations. Individual advice for citizens is also possible.