Stop, Drop, and Roll

 

More than 15,000 people are seriously injured each year from their clothes catching on fire. Flammable liquids were a factor in over half of these injuries. Clothing can catch on fire many other ways also. Loose clothing may catch fire on a hot stove. Lighting a cigarette while working with a flammable liquid can cause a fire. A smoldering barbecue fire with lighter fluid being sprayed can flare up and catch clothing and hair on fire. Immediate action is required when a person's clothing catches on fire.

Never run if your clothing catches on fire. By using the STOP, DROP, and ROLL technique the risk of increasing the injury is minimized. The basics of STOP, DROP, and ROLL are easy to remember:

If your clothes catch on fire STOP.
DROP to the floor in a prone position.
Cover your face to protect from the fire and ROLL over and over until the flames are out.

Provide immediate first aid and call 911.