Stop, drop and roll is a simple
fire safety
Fire safety is the set of practices intended to reduce destruction caused by fire. Fire safety measures include those that are intended to prevent wikt:ignition, the ignition of an uncontrolled fire and those that are used to limit the spread a ...
technique taught to children,
emergency service
Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety, security, and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while oth ...
personnel and industrial workers as a component of training in some of the anglophone world, particularly in North America. The method involves three steps that fire victims should follow if their clothing catches fire, to try to extinguish it.
Such attempt can be especially useful when there are flames on the back, or too much fire.
Procedure
Stop, drop and roll consists of three components:
# Stop – The fire-affected person stops, ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
# Drop – The fire-affected person drops to an appropriate piece of ground, lying down if possible. The face is covered with their own hands to protect the face from any flame (this can be remembered as an additional "Cover" step).
# Roll – The fire-affected person rolls on a side or on both sides along the ground, according to the available space, in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. If the victim is on a rug or one is nearby, they can roll the rug around themselves to further extinguish the flame.
The effectiveness of stop, drop and roll may be further enhanced by combining it with other
firefighting
Firefighting is a profession aimed at controlling and extinguishing fire. A person who engages in firefighting is known as a firefighter or fireman. Firefighters typically undergo a high degree of technical training. This involves structural fir ...
techniques, including the use of a
fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which ha ...
, dousing with water, or beating the flames on oneself (blankets are commonly used for that).
Those teaching the technique are advised to teach children the proper circumstances for its use. As such, some advice pamphlets regarding the technique suggest reminding children that this technique is only to be used in the event of catching on fire and not when a smoke alarm is sounding in a situation that requires immediate evacuation.
References
External links
Alisa Ann Ruch Burn FoundationColumbia University
{{Fire fighting
Firefighting
First aid
Safety practices