Before You Go Up: Fire Safety in Multi-Story Buildings

After noting the frightening statistical probability of finding oneself in a high-rise fire (“Americans have one of the highest fire-death rates in the industrialized world ...”), this brief, informative guide looks at fire emergency preparedness techniques specific to multi-story buildings, along the way explaining cultural attitudes toward structural fires, and touching on ways that people typically try to escape burning buildings. Public information officer Diane Roberts hosts Before You Go Up, which describes simple safety measures (such as carrying a small flashlight when traveling) and introduces fire safety officials who appear in stills and speak briefly off-camera. While it takes an hour or less to create a plan for an emergency evacuation, most people believe that it is someone else's responsibility to ensure safety in office buildings, dormitories, apartments, or hotels. Unfortunately, safety laws may not always be enforced in older structures, where conflagrations are often viewed as unavoidable. Accompanied by teaching materials, this short but solid fire safety program is recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)