Emergency Travel Safety Tips for Overnight Stays

In Your Guest Room:

1. Pre-Plan Your Escape Routes:

1.1 Review the emergency exit plan and escape routes posted in your room, generally located on the back of the entry door.

1.1.1 Note all routes, especially the shortest route.

1.1.2 Count the number of doors and turns from your room door to exits.

1.1.3 Make sure the exits are unlocked. If they are locked, report it right away.

1.2 Find the nearest fire alarm. Generally, it is located near the exit or stairwell door or elevators. Read the instructions on how to use it or have someone instruct you on how to activate the alarm.

2. Program the phone number of the front desk and the facilities address into your cell phone.

3. Keep your cell phone, a flashlight (this maybe your cell phone), and room key within reach. If you are staying in an earthquake prone area, keep these secured in a nightstand drawer if available.

4. Sleep in clothes you can bear being seen in and have shoes within easy reach.

5. If the alarm sounds, vibrates or flashes or you smell smoke:

5.1 * Call 911, let them know the alarm has been activated, give the address. If you need help evacuating give your room number, floor number, its location (for example “North Tower”) and state what type of help you need.

5.2 * Then call the hotel operator or the front desk, tell them you called 911 and provide them with the same information. The operator will be getting many calls, so you may need to call multiple times to get your call answered.

6. Go to the door of your room and feel the door handle with the back of your hand. These doors are usually insulated (fire doors) and you may not detect heat on the other side. If the door handle is hot, do not open the door.

7. If the door handle is not hot:

7.1 Open the door slowly, but be ready to close it immediately if necessary.

7.2 Take no chances. If you can leave safely:

7.2.1 Quickly put on shoes, pick up your wallet, room key and cell phone, evacuate and close your door behind you.

7.2.2 Go to the nearest exit.

7.2.3 Use the stairs — never use elevators during a fire (unless instructed to do so by first responders. [sic]

7.2.4 Proceed with care down to the ground level.

7.2.5 If you must escape through smoke, thoroughly soak a towel and place it over your head/mouth/nose. Get low to the ground to stay under the smoke and move to the nearest emergency exit.

8. If the door handle is hot or there is fire or dense smoke in the hall:

8.1 Few people burn to death in fires, most fatalities come from breathing smoke. Avoiding excessive exposure to smoke should be your top concern.

8.2 Keep your room door closed.

8.3 It may be safer in your room.

8.3.1 Call 911 and let them know your location. (see number 5.1)

8.4 If there is smoke in your room and you are able, roll out of bed and crawl on the floor. – DO NOT STAND! Smoke and deadly gasses rise.

8.4.1 Stay low and, if you are able, place wet towels, sheets or other cloth items around the bottom of the door to keep smoke out of the room.

8.4.2 Fill the bathtub. Use the ice bucket to keep the towels wet around doors.

8.4.3 Do not break windows unless the smoke in your room is getting thick. Open or broken windows will draw the fire in your direction.

8.4.4 If a window can open slightly, hang a sheet or other light colored visible item from the outside of the window to signal the fire fighters.

8.4.5 If the window does not open, use your flashlight at the window to signal your location.

8.4.6 Shut off fans and air conditioners.