Once you have made your way out of a burning

building you may already be suffering the effects

from lack of oxygen.

at 21% Oxygen Level

Normal Atmospheric Level

at 19.5 % Oxygen Level

Minimum Healthful Level

at 15-19% Oxygen Level

Decreased Stamina and Coordination, also may induce early symptoms described below

at 12-14% Oxygen Level

Breathing rate increases with exertion, increase in heart rate. Impaired

coordination, perception, and judgement

at 10-12% Oxygen Level

Breathing further increases in rate

and depth, lips turn blue. Poor judgement.

at 8-10% Oxygen Level

Mental failure, fainting, unconsciousness, nausea, and vomiting.

at 6-8% Oxygen Level

Fatal after 6-8 minutes.

at 4-6% Oxygen Level

Coma in 40 seconds, convulsions,

respiration ceases, and death.

One of the major effects of lack of oxygen is the

impairment of judgement. You may not realize it,

but the possible exposure of lack of oxygen on the

way out may impair your ability to think clearly

and rationally. Even if you are not affected, others

who escaped with you may display this impairment of judgement. IT IS IMPORTANT TO

PREVENT OTHERS FROM RE-ENTERING!
l Another hazard which exists in a burning building is the presence of toxic gases. Carbon Monoxide is a main by-product of fire. It is odorless,

colorless, and tasteless. In high concentration it

can immediately cause unconsciousness and subsequent death. Even in moderate amounts carbon

monoxide can cause impairment of mental functions much similar to the lack of oxygen.

l Fire itself is a serious hazard in that it can cause

fatal or debilitating burn injuries. A building fire

can generate heat upwards of 1500°F. Keep in

mind that water boils at 212oF, and that most foods

are cooked in temperatures of less than 500°F.

There is the possible danger of flashover where a

room is immediately engulfed in flames in an

explosion-like reaction.

l Gas mains, propane tanks, and even small

arms ammunition can explode causing serious

injury.

l The structural integrity of the building can be

affected during fire. Ceilings and walls can collapse on top of you, the floors can fall from

underneath your feet, and other structures such as

stairways and porches can collapse.

l Often electrical lines can become exposed inside the building and fall from outside connections to the ground on the exterior of the building.

This can result in electrocution.
Go to a safe place (preferably prearranged) far

enough away from the building in case of collapse

or explosion and perform a head count of those

who were in the building with you (family members or co-workers).

l If someone is missing it is critically important that this be conveyed to arriving

Firefighting Personnel. Tell them who and

how many people are missing and where

they were last seen.

“DO NOT GO BACK IN AND TRY TO

FIND THOSE MISSING”

Seek medical care if you or any others who escaped from the buring building are injured. Keep

in mind that the symptoms of lack of oxygen and/

or exposure to toxic gases can closely resemble

those of alcohol intoxication, Get these people

immediate medical attention.

Seek shelter from the elements in a safe neighboring building, expecially in the cold, rain, and

extreme heat.

Ask Firefighting Officials or a neighbor to notify

insurance company, nearby relatives or the Red

Cross to arrange lodging (if applicable).

If you are not going to remain in the building,

make sure your property is secure. Ensure the

police are aware of the building being unattended.

Lock up or board up open windows and doors.
One of the greatest hazards to life

that exist in a building fire of any

magnitude is the lack of sufficient

oxygen.

Oxygen not only is essential for

human life, but also is key to supporting the life of the fire. When fire

and humans compete for the limited

amount of oxygen within a burning

building, fire always wins!

Most fire fatalities are caused because of this. It is often referred to as

death from smoke inhalation but

put in much simpler terms it is death

by suffocation.
The dangers of oxygen displacement in a burning building as well

as other hazards including the presence of toxic gases, the fire itself,

the risk of explosion, building collapse, and electrocution make reentering a burning structure a dangerous, if not deadly proposition.

United States Fire Administration

✩ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1993-0-720-854

Some of the information in this

publication has been provided to the

United States Fire Administration by the:

Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner’s Office

For more information or copies of this

publication, please contact:

United States Fire Administration

Federal Emergency Management Agency

16825 South Seton Avenue

Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727

L-192/November 1991