Escaping from a fire.

someone has long arms

tim

Oh yes, have you ever tried this with modern windows and buildings? If you tried this in my house you might get stuck in the opening bit, or find the window sill is only a couple of inches wide.

Brian

Nearer 6 foot here and there's a very prickly rose bush to land in.

that is why first floor windows should be a certain min size to serve as escape windows ......

I'd like to see you take the time to turn around to do that when there's a fire up your arse. Indeed, I'd pay to watch.

And that's assuming you don't have to smash the window to get out.

And the seven year old? You climb out and hang on they then climb down you, and drop off, in theory.

Similar drop here as well but better that, prickly bush or not, than staying in the room making friends with Mr Fire.

Moreover when they hit the deck their knees will be shattered as they bend into the wall. I doubt very much if the average person would have the strength to hold onto a windowsill whilst climbing out and they would be more likely to end up falling in an uncontrolled manner.

The best bet is to sit on the window ledge and jump away from the building landing with legs partially bent to absorb and slow the impact. Pretty much like standard parachute landing training.

This may be easier said than done if you are being chased by flames.

Ours are 5 foot square, tilt swivel! The previous owneer was worried about fire.

Or an escape ladder under the bed?

good man

Not really. I'm just under 6ft and not particularly simian. I just measured how far it is; stood outside underneath the window and stretched up as far as I could with a tape measure to the bottom of the upper room window ledge.

So harry is not far off right. In my case it was 4' 4" (1930s villa style house with the usual bay windows).

I could get onto the window ledge, but then the difficulties start. If I sit on it and jump, that's not far off 20ft to the ground. To do what harry suggests would only be possible for most people if they have something to grip onto with both hands, such as a grab handle like you see around old folks' front doors. You wouldn't want that as a fixture.

Probably an escape ladder is needed that can hook over the inside window ledge.

And / or molten PVC ... ;-(

Cheers, T i m

Rope ladders are very hard to climb. I bet that's similar. And yes down is easier than up but still not easy.

or bounce onto the roof of the sun porch.....

And hope you bounced and didn't go *through* it...

I think that if you are being chased by the flames you've almost certainly succumbed to the smoke

well if it a newish one the regs state it must be able to take a body dropping on to it......

You should have windows big enough to get out of fitted.