How safety conscious are you?

We always check the fire exits in hotels. DS refused a much prized apartment in a high rise block in New York because the fire brigade ladders could only reach the third floor. We have three floors in our house and I did once try to do a fire drill but the family ignored me.

www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/29/kirstyscott

Dickens, not so rare unfortunately.
same tragic thing happened to a lady vicar some years ago, in front of her friend whom she had just had to lunch.

Yes, I think I take a fairly sensible approach. Always check exits in hotels, cruise ships are very strict on their safety procedure. I always double check that the doors are locked in the house at night, and that the house keys are in the same place so that they could be found in a smoke filled hallway.

For me, the most worrying 'safety' aspect in life is - other drivers. Those (for example) who impatiently overtake you on a bend (even though you are driving at the limit and not below it).

I'm not a timid motorist, I've driven in snow blizzards in Norway on icy roads, but such people unnerve me.

Some people appear to be 'psychologically' unfit to sit behind a wheel, and I wonder if their whole approach to life is similarly flawed - would they read the safety notices in hotel rooms?

I think it's an "attitude" issue. Health and Safety is instituted for a reason... it's not "gorn mad" when it instructs individuals to do things that are considered basic common sense.

I'm still trying to persuade the lady who helps me out with cleaning to load her dishwasher with the knives facing blade-down. Should I tell her about the 4 year old who was killed because he was racing around in his granny's kitchen and fell onto the open compartment of her dishwasher with a sharp knife facing upwards which pierced his chest? I don't want to be alarmist and I suspect that was a very isolated incident - but, it happened.

No Foxygloves- it is the alcohol- not enough to be visibly drunk, but definitely reaction impaired- there is a good reason people are not allowed to drive or operate machinery after a few drinks, even if not 'drunk'. But yes, combine this with a sleeping pill and it is even more dangerous- including for others.

Always read safety notices. An ex army friend told me years ago always know your surroundings. Look for exits anywhere your in. Stuck with me all those years.

Safety first and foremost .

In the days when I travelled by air I always used to watch the safety drill. I also counted the number of rows from where I was sitting to the nearest exit. If the flight was not fully loaded I often moved to be nearer an exit after takeoff. Later I discovered sites where you can see a plan of the aircraft you will be travelling on so you can pick your preferred seat and take note of where the exits are.

We always check the exits in hotels.

We have means of escape windows at home (dormer bungalow) we always told the GCs, when they were old enough to understand, how to get out of the windows and onto the roof if they were woken up by the fire alarms, each time they came to stay. But when they were little I always slept upstairs with them.
I always worry when I see parents and young children sleeping on different floors in their homes.

Sounds as if it’s the sleeping pill which is the risk factor.
How would you legislate against that?
(Although frankly if my plane was about to crash into the sea I’d rather be asleep than screaming in panic! )
Is there not already too much “legislation” and “ what iffery” and not enough common sense?

I am not very safety-conscious, not because I am some sort of maverick, it just doesn't cross my mind to read safety notices in hotels or anywhere else.

Maybe this will make me do it, it isn't fair that I would have to rely on others in an emergency.

We once stayed in the penthouse of a magnificient Hôtel, in SA, and the views were amazing and we loved it. Our guest on the other hand, a architect for large projects- was very nervous as he said in an emergency, mainly a fire- we would be in serious trouble.

Whilst not fanatical, I am definitely one of the safety conscious ones.
Yes I read the notice on hotel doors and cabin doors when we are on a cruise. Of course on cruises the safety drill within hours of boarding is compulsory for everyone.

In common I’m sure with all mums I always put saucepans on the back hotplates when mine were small and that habit continued even once they had all grown up and left home.
Now it continues as we have little ones here a lot.

Foxygloves

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

Safety first. Everyone is responsible for their own safety, or they endanger the lives of others trying to help them.

And yet when I mentionned this about alcohol on planes, nobody commented.

It’s not alcohol on planes, it’s drunk or disorderly travellers who are the problem.

This is not what I am talking about, at all. I am talking about those very nice people who have a couple of drinks before, a couple when on board, and often a sleeping pill on top- to be out for the count during the flight. Not visibly drunk, and definitely not disorderly- but who would be unable to function fast and well, in case of an emergency- putting everyone else at risk.

I am a nervous wreck. I have to know where exits are and that windows open.

I am reminded of an episode of “Outnumbered “ where Karen berated her family for not knowing where their “Fire safety assembly point” was at home!

We rarely stay in hotels now, but when we stay in rented properties, I always make sure there’s a fire extinguisher and blanket in the kitchen. We’ve never actually set fire to anything yet, but there’s a first time for everything! I always check saucepan handles since DS was cooking in a property we were staying in; he picked up a pan of hot water he was cooking pasta in to strain it over the sink, and the handle came off the pan. It looked as if it had been glued on by a past renter and the owner hadn’t noticed. Neither did we until it was too late. He was lucky not to have been badly hurt.

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

Safety first. Everyone is responsible for their own safety, or they endanger the lives of others trying to help them.

And yet when I mentionned this about alcohol on planes, nobody commented.

It’s not alcohol on planes, it’s drunk or disorderly travellers who are the problem.

Think I read evacuation notices often but not always. This has been a salutary reminder and I will do better. Thanks everyone.

Germanshepherdsmum

Safety first. Everyone is responsible for their own safety, or they endanger the lives of others trying to help them.

And yet when I mentionned this about alcohol on planes, nobody commented.

I think I do usually read hotel room notices but couldn’t swear that it’s 100%.

Safety-wise, my most nervous moments are when I see Gdcs climbing trees like monkeys! Far too high for me. Dh is much more chilled, was the same with our dds, too.

I always check. My ex husband was an architect, and one time we checked into a hotel in Majorca and as soon as we went into our room, he said "We'd never get out of here in a fire!" Happy hols

It was drummed into me by my company when I travelled a lot world wide, the habit has stayed with me,

Sago, I'm just like you - as you'd have no time to read or prepare in an emergency. Everyone who stays here knows the escape plan from their bedroom. Nobody else seems to have a plan for escaping a fire.