EXECUTIVE TRAVEL : A Hotel Guest’s Survival Kit for Disaster

The aftershocks that continue to shake up the Los Angeles area remind us all how vulnerable we feel in an emergency, a feeling that is all the more pronounced if you happen to be caught in an unfamiliar city on business. Although hotel staffs are trained to respond in emergencies, and staff members are assigned to help guests from their rooms, there are still some basic safety tips to keep in mind when staying in a hotel.

Here is a rundown of things to do and not do should you be caught in an emergency while traveling. These tips were supplied by Capt. Steve Valenzuela, spokesman for the L.A. County Fire Department, and Ray Ellis, safety and operations consultant to the Hotel and Motel Assn. in Washington.

General Planning

Whenever you travel, plan ahead and have an out-of-state contact whom concerned family members and friends can call. It’s often easier to call out of state than within the local area after a major catastrophe. Keep this number in your wallet so emergency personnel can use it if you are unconscious.

Make sure you carry a wallet card or medical identification bracelet with you if you have a medical condition that can be life-threatening, such as diabetes, a heart condition or a seizure disorder. Keep the information up-to-date.

Always let hotel staff know if you have a disability or condition that might affect your ability to see, hear or move in an emergency. If you are hearing-impaired, for example, tell the staff so that if they need to alert you, they will enter the room, not just pound on the door.

Fire

Don’t panic. Panic is contagious and can lead to pandemonium among other guests.

Know two ways to exit your floor or building. Read the information on the back of the hotel room door to get this information. Know how to get out of your room by feel since you may not be able to see because of smoke. Count the number of doors to the exit.

Never use the elevator. During a fire or other disruption, the elevator may take on a life of its own and its doors could open onto a floor engulfed in flames.

Take your key with you when you evacuate, because many doors will automatically lock behind you, and if your exit is blocked you may need to get back into your room.

Always put your key in the same place in the room so you can find it easily. If you discover a fire, report it immediately to the hotel security office and the fire department, then leave the building.

Use your judgment about whether to try putting out the fire with an extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are very effective on certain types of small blazes that have just started, but not on bigger ones. If you can’t put it out, leave immediately.

Before leaving the room, feel the door. If it’s hot, keep the door closed, seal the space under it with wet towels or sheets and wait to be rescued. If you don’t feel heat through the door, brace your shoulder against it and open slowly to check for smoke. If there is a lot of smoke, close the door and seal it. If not, exit the building.

If you decide to evacuate and you encounter smoke, stay low. Smoke and hot gases rise. Put a wet towel over your head to keep cool, but remember that the towel won’t filter toxic gases.

If you are trapped in your room, hang something in the window to let rescuers know where you are. If the fire is in the room and you can’t get out, seal yourself in the bathroom, plug the space under the door, fill the tub with water and throw water on the door. There is little that is flammable in a bathroom.

If you escape the building, be aware that there may be falling glass and debris as you leave. Never go back into a burning building. If you are missing someone, tell rescuers where you think the person might be located.

Earthquake

Keep a small emergency preparedness kit with you when you travel. Pack a small flashlight, small radio, extra batteries, a pair of gloves, bottle of water and a couple of granola bars. Make sure you know where your kit is so you can grab it as you take cover.

When the shaking starts, follow the “duck, cover and hold” instructions. Check your room when you arrive to see where the safest places might be. Get under a heavy desk or table away from anything that might fall. Brace yourself by holding on. If there is no adequate shelter, get under a door frame. Arches are even stronger.

If you’re in a hallway during an earthquake, take cover by sitting on the floor with your back against the wall, head between your knees and hands over the back of your head. Try to get to a corner or other place that might be stronger structurally. Stay away from mirrors and chandeliers.

When the ground stops shaking, proceed slowly. There may be other dangers, including downed electrical wires, broken glass or gas leaks. Don’t automatically reach for the light switches or strike a match; a spark could ignite a gas leak. Use your flashlight instead.

Remember that hotel personnel are trained in emergency evacuation procedures. Follow orders.

Once you’ve evacuated, let the hotel know your whereabouts. Don’t just wander off or return home without telling them, or rescuers may waste time searching for you.