Nov 2007

Photo courtesy of Hien.

You probably know how to escape your own house in the event of a fire, but would you know what to do if there's a fire at hostel you're staying at?

It's more common than you'd think. Each year, 50-100 people die in hostel fires and 1000 travellers are involved in one. If you're going to spend a lot of time in hostels or hotels on your trip, it's well worth knowing what to do in case of a fire.

This week is Hostel Fire Awareness Week, an initiative set up by FlareBrands and GapYear.com, in partnership with STA Travel, YHA, and WYSTC. GapYear.com has put together an excellent guide to staying safe during fires at backpacker hostels, which you can download here.

Here are 3 helpful ideas on how to prepare yourself for a fire:

• Find out if the hostel has fire alarms and smoke detectors in each room.

• Make sure the fire exits aren't blocked by anything.

• Walk the route to the fire exit after booking in.
  

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Travellerspoint member Schweboo took this photo on 31 September, 1987 in Lhasa, Tibet. He writes:

Two boys in Bharkor Square taken on the day before the 1 October 1987 riot in Lhasa. On that day, two boys like these two were shot and killed. The Jokhang temple is in the background.

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