Death by fire is probably one of the worst possible ways a human being can die, not only for the victim, but for the surviving family as well. A harsh statement indeed, especially in light of the fire tragedy at The Station in West Warwick, RI, an event now deemed the fourth worst fire in American history.

The point is, however, that it’s time we take off the kid gloves and get real. Let not 100 souls die in vain. Instead, let their sacrifice serve as a symbol to save generations to come. And it’s up to us to make sure that happens.

Most of us never even think about fire or give it a second thought. We worry about crossing the street and getting hit by a bus. We teach our children never to talk to strangers. We fear getting on airplanes in case of a terrorist attack. But who ever considers the danger of fire when we enter a hotel, a restaurant or nightclub, even a wedding banquet hall?

All of these establishments are designed to hold dozens, if not hundreds, of people to provide entertainment and pleasure. The last thing on our minds is where the exit signs are or planning an escape route. We innately trust the owners to take care of these pesky little details so we can enjoy our night out. Well, not anymore. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to take control of our own destiny. What’s more, it’s our responsibility as parents to begin adding to the long list of safety tips we teach our children to identify exits everywhere they go.

Take control. There are many things we can do to honor the people who lost their lives in Rhode Island and ensure the prevention of future loss of life in such horrific situations. In addition to teaching and training our young, as adults we can do the following when patronizing any establishment:

Hotels: Most reputable hotels provide brochures and TV monitors that clearly describe what to do in case of a hotel fire. Watch the TV promo or read the brochure as one of the first things you do when you enter the room. Know where the exits are. Check them out to make sure doors are not locked and are easily accessible. Which is the closest exit to your room? If that’s blocked what are your other choices? What if you have to stay in your room? Would you now what to do and not do? When that very loud, earth shattering alarm goes off in the middle of the night while you’re in a dead sleep, you need to act quickly, not try to figure out what to do next.

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