Forest fires have grown very common today and the need to survive it more crucial. If your home is in the path of a forest fire then you need to act very quickly to stay ahead of the consuming flames. Learn more about how to react in a situation where you have to evacuate and act fast to save your home and yourself.

Surviving Forest Fires
Follow these steps to move ahead of the flames:

• Throw away outdoor furniture and inflammable material
• Prepare to evacuate
• Turn off the gas valves
• Switch on the lights indoors because forest smoke can reduce visibility
• Wet the roof, yard and house to prevent the fire from spreading further
• Use towels to put out fire next to you
• Know when to fight fire and when to run from it
• Move away from the flames to avoid inhaling forest fire smoke
• Keep the escape routes open (go against the wind and downhill because fire spreads faster with the flow of the wind and uphill)
• Wet a cloth and cover your face and nose to move through fire
• If your hair or clothes catch fire stop, drop and roll to put out the fire

Though forest fires are a necessity in the environmental cycle, it can pose great risk to one’s health and life.

A derecho is like a tornado except that the winds in this case go straight up instead of going up in circles. It is accompanied with violent showers or thunderstorms. Its wind velocity or speed is almost more than 57 miles per hour and many people get injured by the derecho when they are outdoors.

How to survive a derecho?
Follow these steps to survive a derecho:

• Get indoors to the basement of your house to survive a derecho
• Avoid boating, water sports during a derecho because it can overturn boats with the high waves and violent winds
• Mobile homes need to moved to a safer location
• Avoid barns and shelter with glass windows where you could get injured by the falling debris and shattering glass
• Avoid driving during a derecho as vehicles are likely to overturn or get crushed by the falling electric poles, trees and debris
• Stay alert of a derecho that is coming through radio and news to stay prepared

Take cover in a room preferably without windows. A severe thunderstorm is occasionally followed by a derecho and a warning is always sent out by meteorologists. A derecho has strong winds which can uproot trees and poles that can damage homes. So avoid camping if a derecho warning has already been released.

Preparing to survive a calamity can actually help you save a life. Floods are very common in the United States and countless people are at the risk without being least aware of it or ways to tackle it. Knowing what to do can help save a lot of time till you find your way to safety.

How to survive a flood?
Listed below are ways to respond to an ensuing flood situation:

• Staying alert via news and radio channels helps you prepare for an incoming flood situation, evacuation procedures, etc
• Never try walking through flood waters because even a six inch high flood has such high currents that will topple you over
• Use a wooden stick if you have no other way but to walk through flood water
• Don’t try driving in the flood
• Get out of your car and find higher ground if the car begins to fill with water
• Get out of the water quickly because it is contaminated with gasoline, dirt, raw sewage, etc

Water pressure can make the roads and buildings very weak so stay wary and alert of their condition. Disinfect the clothes and objects that may have come in contact with the flood water and remember life is the biggest asset. So fight to save it.

Parks that entertain activities such as camping have introduced many rules to avoid open fires and accidents. These rules are meant to safeguard people and the environment.

Open Fire Safety Tips
Listed below are some open fire safety tips:

• Before starting the fire clear the ground of dried leaves, grass, etc that can catch fire easily
• Learn how to put out fires quickly – shovel to throw dirt, fire extinguisher and water
• Do not start a fire if its too windy as neighboring areas can also be affected
• Do not wear loose clothes or don’t sit or stand next to fire if you are wearing loose clothes
• A dying fire starter can cause an explosion so light woods instead
• If someone’s hair or clothes catch fire, he or she should stop, drop and roll to put out the fire
• Children should be accompanied by elders especially next to places where fires are lit and the stop, drop, roll technique should be practiced with them

Check local and state laws for other situations where there can be an open fire.

Surviving volcanic eruptions isn’t as easy as told. No shelter is another challenge to bear with but certain tactics should see you through safety. Things go wrong only when you don’t know what to do and run helter-skelter in panic.

How to survive volcanic eruptions when outdoors?
Follow these steps to survive volcanic eruptions:

• Move up to a higher place because lava and flood will travel through low lying areas
• Never try to outrun lava because you wouldn’t succeed
• Look for objects that can help you shield against the lava
• Also look for floodwater and mudflows during eruptions and climb to higher ground to save yourself from drowning or being carried away
• Try using a respirator or cloth to breathe because volcanic fumes are lethal and can kill in merely 60 seconds or less
• Poisonous gases will collect near the surface of the earth so keep your head up and away from the ground
• Get medical help to treat injuries

Knowing how to live a volcanic eruption can save your life than running away from it which will anyway consume you in no time. So keep your guard and look for safe and higher spots to rush to during one.