Don’t let needless combustibles pile up in the house (e.g., old clothes, newspapers, unused boxes).
Do not carelessly dispose of flammable liquids (e.g., alcohol, gasoline) or flammable gases (e.g., butane).
Do not leave electrical wires and cables hanging or lying in difficult-to-see places, e.g., under carpets and behind wardrobes.
Keep lighters and matches out of children’s reach and away from accessible places.
Don’t allow smoking inside the house. If you smoke, do not smoke around beds or bedding where the smoker may doze off while smoking, and use a large ashtray.
In high-rise apartment buildings
Check if there are balcony emergency exits or partitions leading to the neighbors, and be sure not to block passages by leaving furniture there.
If the evacuation stairs are polluted with smoke, keep in mind that you can escape from the smoke and get air in balconies with windows.
In a high-rise residential/commercial complex where it is impossible to open the windows by expansion of the balcony, smoke is likely to enter through the front door. Therefore, it is necessary to have a buffer zone (a sealed small room) to prevent smoke from penetrating
In high-rise office buildings
Participate in fire drills on a regular basis and be fully aware of safe evacuation routes during a fire.
Smoke only in designated areas.
Extinguish cigarettes before throwing them away.
If electrical equipment is not functioning properly or if you notice a strange electrical smell, immediately unplug it and ask an expert to examine it.
If an electrical cord is partially severed or frayed or the coating is stripped, replace it.
Protect cords extended to the floor or the wall from damage, and use only cords meeting the specified electrical capacity.
Do not place electric heaters near the wall or around combustible materials.
Designate someone to be responsible for electrical equipment who will unplug equipment not in use when leaving the office and will examine electrical equipment on a daily basis.
Do not leave combustible materials such as empty boxes, garbage, etc. at exits.
When using multi-purpose establishments (e.g., restaurants, karaokes, PC rooms)
Before using such a place, ensure that there is an exit besides the entrance, and make sure that the exit is open and securely connected to the ground.
Buildings with labyrinthine passageways may present difficulties in the event of an emergency evacuation.
When using the basement of a building
Buildings having only a single entrance to the basement present difficulties in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Prevention of electrical fires
Short circuits
Use fuses or overcurrent circuit breakers only at (or below) the rated capacity.
Use specified cables meeting the capacity, and replace old or damaged cables with new ones.
Regularly inspect the inside of switches, distribution boards, etc., and remove combustible and conductive matter.
Check wiring installed even in places that are out of sight, such as the ceiling, to identify any existing abnormalities.
Use protective wiring conduits, if possible, to prevent exposure to heat or external impact.
Do not secure cables with screws or staples.
Protect cords running through the floor or doorframes from damage using wiring conduits.
Electrical shocks
Organize circuits in buildings or for large-capacity electrical equipment by category, and install a circuit breaker for each circuit.
Check the coating of cords and wires often for damage.
Ensure that there is no direct contact between electrical wiring and metallic or wet structural elements.
Electrical sparks
Unplug all electrical devices after use.
If power is interrupted by an outage, unplug or switch off electrical devices.
Remove debris and dust, metal chips, etc. from distribution boards.
Clean frequently in places exposed to large amounts of combustible dust-like matter (e.g., flour, sawdust, textile fluff) to prevent such particles from accumulating.
Do not put furniture, hazardous objects, and other combustible materials near electrical apparatus, e.g., distribution boxes.
Overloading
Do not use multiple plug connectors: do not put multiple plugs into a single electrical outlet.
Use only cords meeting the specifications for electrical capacity and voltage of each electrical device.
Overheating
Unplug electrical devices before going out.
It is very hazardous to leave heating elements (e.g., electric blankets) turned on for long periods.
Regularly check the automatic temperature controller for devices like electric heaters to make sure it is working properly.
Since incandescent light bulbs generate high heat, make sure the heat is able to be released and do not place combustible materials nearby.
Tighten all connections firmly, for example, between cables, between devices and cables, etc.
When a fire has broken out
Evacuating during a fire
If you discover that a fire has started, loudly call out “Fire!” to let others know.
Press the fire alarm bell.
Do not use the elevator. Use the stairs instead.
If it is impossible to go downstairs during evacuation, go to the roof instead.
Stay low and follow the guide’s instructions.
When passing through flames, wrap your body and face with a wet blanket or towel.
Before opening a door, touch the door with the back of your hand or touch the knob.
If the knob doesn’t feel hot when you touch it, open the door carefully and step outside.
If the knob is hot to the touch, do not open the door and find another way instead.
After evacuating, stand downwind as you wait for help.
Once you have gotten out, do not attempt to re-enter the building.
Unless there is another exit, wait until a rescue worker arrives.
Jam any door crevices with wet clothes or bedding to prevent smoke from entering the room.
Important reminders about dense smoke
There is a clear air layer under a smoke layer
Creep down with your arms and knees when moving in a place full of smoke. Do not let the abdomen touch the floor.
Use a wet towel to cover the nose and lips to prevent smoke from entering the lungs.
If your clothing catches on fire, cover your eyes and mouth with both hands, and then roll on the floor.
Reporting a fire
Dial 119 calmly.
Report the fire.
Calmly describe the details of the fire: location, type of a fire, etc. (“A fire broke out in our kitchen. It’s a two-story house.”)
Let them know the address (It’s #○○○, ○○-dong, ○○-gu /It’s behind ○○ Elementary School.)
Hold the line until the fire department acknowledges the report.
Emergency calls (119, 112 etc.) are available for free via public phones just by pressing the red Emergency Call button.
Emergency calls (119, 112 etc.) can be freely made on public phones by simply pressing the red Emergency Call button.
Do not make prank calls.
※ 119 is the number for reporting a fire or requesting emergency assistance or medical transport.
A subway fire
Contact the crew by pressing the emergency button located next to the seat reserved for elderly, infirm, or disabled passengers.
If circumstances allow, put out the fire using the two fire extinguishers available in each train.
Unless the door of the coach is open, break a glass window using the emergency hammer. If there is no hammer, use a fire extinguisher to break the glass window.
How to open the subway doors manually
1. Open the small cover below the seat next to the door.
2. Pull the emergency cork found inside the cover, and wait for 3-10 seconds until the deflating sound stops.
3. After deflation, open the door using your hands.
Cover your nose and mouth with something such as a towel, tissue, or sleeve, and evacuate quickly.
If the power goes out, follow the emergency exit lights to the exit. If there are no emergency exit lights, find the way out by feeling along the wall or following the guide blocks embedded in the floor for the visually impaired.
If it is impossible to evacuate aboveground, follow the subway tunnel in the direction of the train.
If possible, put out the fire using a hydrant.
A fire in an underground shopping arcade
In case of a fire, press the fire alarm and immediately report the incident to the fire station.
In an underground shopping arcade, you may lose your sense of direction. Stay cool and do not be swept away by the confusion.
There are emergency exits in either direction, so don’t run around in a panic. Choose one direction to evacuate.
Evacuate in the opposite direction of the fire or in the direction of air inflow.
Evacuate immediately, since smoke and heat may spread quickly.
A fire in a high-rise building
In case of a fire, press the fire alarm and immediately report the incident to the fire station.
When getting out of an office that is on fire, close all the doors on your way out.
Stay as low as possible when going through smoke-filled areas.
When opening a door, check the door temperature using the back of your hand. If it is too hot, do not open the door and use another emergency exit.
When getting out of a building, move to a safe place far from the building and make sure that everyone gets away safely.
When there are people unable to evacuate, immediately inform a firefighter of the number of persons and their last known location.
Once you have gotten out, do not re-enter the building.
When it is impossible to get out of a building, enter a room with a window and wait for rescue.
Jam door crevices with curtains to prevent smoke from getting into the room. If there is water available, wet your clothing, cover the mouth and nose, and take a deep breath.
If there is a phone, contact 119 and let them know your location.
Do not use the elevator.
Designate a colleague able to provide emergency assistance to those who would have difficulty evacuating on their own, such as people with disabilities.
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