How do you save someone whose clothes are on fire?

Answer 1

If a person's clothes catch fire, immediately:

1. Yell out loudly, "Call 911", even if you do not think anyone else is nearby; someone may hear and make the call even if the person doesn't get involved. As soon as you take care of the person you can call 911 yourself if no one has done it.
2. Get the person to immediately STOP, DROP, and ROLL. Many people panic when on fire and try to run. Grab a blanket; throw it over the person and get the person to the ground to "stop, drop, roll."
3. Use a blanket or coat to smother the flames -- Do not use any fabric made with rubber, nylon, or other types of melting materials. Continue roll the person away from you, and roll them into/inside the coat/blanket. Rolling will put out most of the flames. Rolling the person away from you will help reduce the risk of the fire jumping to your clothes.
4. Do NOT pull off or rip off clothing because the clothing often melts into the skin; you will pull off large areas of skin and make the person more at risk for shock and infection.
5. Use cool fresh, clean water to douse any remaining flames. For example, use an outdoor gardening hose.
6. Cover the person with a CLEAN bed sheet until help arrives. Try to keep the person warm because burn damage to the skin results in inability to control the body's temperature.
7. Stay with the person until help arrives. Keep the person CALM and help the person to stay conscious.
8. Do NOT give the person anything to drink. Smoke inhalation makes the throat swell.
9. Do NOT put anything on the burns-- NO lotions, butter, margarine, etc.

Answer 2

You stop drop and roll