For better ventilation, to hear children or pets at night or for a feeling of security: Many people sleep with their room door open at night. However, this is exactly what this warns about Institute for Security Research (FSRI) in the USA.
According to a study by researchers, most people believe it is safer to sleep with the door open. However, exactly the opposite is the case.
Reading tip
Open room door: A danger in the event of a fire
In the event of a fire, a closed door can mean the difference between life and death. If access to the bedroom is tight, flames and toxic smoke can spread less quickly, oxygen levels are maintained and the temperature does not rise as much.
According to the safety institute, in recent years those affected have only had an average of three minutes to escape a house fire. That is significantly less than about ten years ago.
The reason for this is the increased use of plastics in house construction, but also in furniture and decorative items. The highly combustible materials ensure that a fire spreads more quickly.
Image gallery: 11 tips for better sleep
Closing the door is therefore a suitable strategy to protect yourself in advance in the event of a possible fire.
Awareness campaign for more safety
The security organization and the fire department therefore launched a US campaign to encourage more people to close their doors before going to bed.
By the way, this should also apply to the door to the children’s room. Smoke detectors also ensure safety by triggering an alarm in the event of a fire.
In Germany, the technical devices have – fortunately – been mandatory in homes and facilities for a long time.
Hide sources
author
Julia Poggensee, news editor
source
Firefighter Safety Research Institute (2018): Close before you doze https://ulfirefightersafety.org/research-projects/close-your-door.html
Reading tips