MOI: Eight ways to stay safe in an emergency in Qatar

In the event of an emergency such as a fire, gas leak or any other incident that warrants evacuations in Qatar, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) has published some advice on how to handle such situations safely.

In addition to calling 999 and sharing your building number, zone and street name, as well as pre-identifying emergency exits, the MOI offers the following tips:

Don’t panic

If it’s safe to do so before heading to the nearest exit, switch off electrical devices and close gas cylinders.

Look around

Check to make sure no one is left behind in the event of a mass evacuation.

Stay down

When there’s a fire, it’s best to crawl to the nearest exit to avoid smoke inhalation. Smoke rises, so cooler, cleaner air can be found close to the floor.

Handle doors with care

In the event of a fire, door handles can be hot and burn your hands. Additionally, when making an escape, close doors behind you to hold back heat and smoke as you find a way out.

Take the stairs

If there’s a fire, never get in an elevator.

Stay out

Once a fire alarm sounds, get out as fast as possible, not stopping to get dressed or gather valuables. Once you’ve left a burning building, don’t return because the smoke inhalation could be fatal.

Try a window

If you’re trapped in an apartment building due to smoke or fire in the corridor, go into a room with a window. Use duct tape or towels to create a seal around the door and over air vents to keep smoke from coming in.