Stop, drop and roll

Stop, Drop, and Roll

The "Stop, Drop, and Roll" technique is a simple fire safety procedure taught to children, adults, and emergency personnel to extinguish a fire on a person's clothing or body. This method is crucial in preventing further injury and minimizing burns when an individual's clothing catches fire.

Overview

The "Stop, Drop, and Roll" technique is a fundamental part of fire safety education. It is designed to quickly extinguish flames on a person's clothing by depriving the fire of oxygen and smothering it. The procedure consists of three steps:

1. Stop: The individual should immediately stop moving. Running or panicking can fan the flames and exacerbate the situation.

2. Drop: The person should drop to the ground, preferably in a horizontal position. This action helps to prevent flames from rising towards the face and head.

3. Roll: The individual should roll back and forth on the ground. This motion helps to smother the flames by cutting off the oxygen supply.

Detailed Steps

Stop

• Rationale: Movement can increase the intensity of the fire by providing it with more oxygen. Stopping immediately reduces the risk of spreading the flames.
• Action: Stand still and avoid any sudden movements.

Drop

• Rationale: Dropping to the ground lowers the risk of flames reaching the face and head, which are more vulnerable to severe burns.
• Action: Quickly get down to the ground, lying flat if possible.

Roll

• Rationale: Rolling smothers the flames by covering them with the body and cutting off the oxygen supply.
• Action: Roll over and over in a continuous motion until the flames are extinguished.

Importance in Fire Safety

The "Stop, Drop, and Roll" technique is a critical component of fire safety education. It is often taught in schools, workplaces, and community safety programs. Understanding and practicing this technique can significantly reduce the severity of burn injuries and save lives.

Limitations

While "Stop, Drop, and Roll" is effective for extinguishing flames on clothing, it is not suitable for all fire-related situations. For instance, it is not effective for: - Fires involving flammable liquids or gases. - Situations where the fire is not on the person's clothing. - Environments where rolling is not possible due to space constraints or obstacles.

Also see

- Fire safety - Burn treatment - Emergency procedures - Fire extinguisher