How should you react if your clothing catches fire?

If your clothing catches fire, the most effective reaction is to stop, drop, and roll to extinguish the flames. This technique is critical because it involves three essential steps that work together to smother the fire.

Stopping prevents the flames from spreading further, as running can fan the fire and increase the intensity. Dropping to the ground minimizes the risk of flames reaching your face and other parts of your body that could lead to severe injuries. Rolling back and forth on the ground helps to extinguish the flames by cutting off their oxygen supply, which is essential for sustaining the fire. This method is widely recommended by fire safety experts because it is simple and can be executed quickly in a panic situation.

Other options, while they might seem like potential responses, either do not effectively address the immediate threat of clothing on fire or can pose additional risks. For example, running to find help may increase the fire's intensity, and jumping into water might not always be immediately accessible or effective, especially if the flames are too large. Using a fire extinguisher is appropriate for certain fire situations but is not practical or safe when you're personally on fire, as it requires the ability to operate the extinguisher and often is meant for fires that are already on the