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Introduction

The drafting, upkeep and communication of the rescue plan are based on the requirement of the Rescue Act (379/2011). In this rescue plan, there is an account:

  1. for the conclusions of the assessment of hazards and risks;
  2. for the safety arrangements of the building and the premises used in the operations;
  3. regarding the instructions to be given to people for the prevention of accidents and acting in accident and danger situations;
  4. other possible actions for independent preparation at the location. (Rescue Act 379/2011, Section 15))

The rescue plan must be kept up to date and it must be communicated in the necessary way to the persons in the relevant building or other site. (Government Decree on Rescue Action 407/2011, Section 2.)

There are also other requirements for safety in the Rescue Act; the most important of these are:
The owner and holder of the building and the operator must, for their part take care that the building, structure and its surroundings are kept in such condition that:

  1. the risk of the starting, intentional starting and spreading of a fire is slight;
  2. the people in the building can vacate the building in the event of fire or other sudden danger situation or they can be rescued in another way;
  3. rescue operations are possible in the event of fire or another accident;
  4. the safety of rescue personnel has been taken into account. (Rescue Act 379/2011, Section 9))

The following equipment and devices must be kept in working order and serviced and inspected appropriately:

  1. extinguishing, rescue and prevention equipment;
  2. devices that facilitate extinguishing and rescue work;
  3. fire detection, alarm and other devices signalling the risk of an accident;
  4. the lighting and signs of the exit routes;
  5. the equipment and devices of the civil defence shelters (Rescue Act 379/2011, Section 12))

The owner and holder of the building and the operator must, for their part:

  1. the starting of fires is to be prevented, as well as the arising of other hazardous situations;
  2. the protection of persons, property and the surroundings in danger situations is to be prepared for;
  3. the extinguishing of fires, and other such rescue measures that they are able to do independently, are to be prepared for;
  4. start action for securing safe exit from fires and other danger situations, as well as action for making rescue operations easier. (Rescue Act 379/2011, Section 14))

Basic property information

Miestentie 2 is a joint building project by HOAS (Foundation for student housing in the Helsinki region) and AYY (Aalto university student housing), which is located on the Kehä 1 (Ring 1 road), approximately one kilometer from the Otaniemi campus. Part A of the building offers HOAS housing, while part B is AYY housing. The building has seven floors. The six upper floors have apartments. Common room, sauna, laundry facilities and the technical and storage facilities are located on the ground floor There are 131 apartments, which include one and two room apartments as well as family apartments.

The building has mechanical ventilation (engine room on the 7th floor), remote controlled smoke vents and fire alarms that are connected to the electricity mains. There is a civil defence shelter on the ground floor.

The building has one main stairwell. In addition, it is possible to exit the building from the emergency exit stairwell located at the end of section 2B of the building.

Basic information

Property name HOAS, Miestentie 2
Building address Miestentie 2
02150 ESPOO
Number of apartments 131
Building type Apartment building
Number of floors 8
Year of construction of the property 2019
Property owner HOAS
tel. 09 549900
http://www.hoas.fi

Organisation

Telephone switchboard HOAS Asumispalvelut
phone 09 549900

Other information

The site falls within the area of the following rescue service: Western Uusimaa.

Heating type District heating
Main water shutoff Heat distribution centre: on the right side of the main door, in the middle of the ground floor corridor, a maintenance room is located at the end of a small storage space
Heat distribution room On the right side of the main door, in the middle of the ground floor corridor, a maintenance room is located at the end of the small storage space
Electricity switchboard A maintenance room is located on the right side when entering through the main door of the stairwell on the ground floor
Ventilation device The mechanical room of the ventilation systemin the stairwell on the 7th floor
Air ventilation emergency stop

At the door of the main entrance of the stairwell and at the door of the emergency exit stairwell located at one end of the building

Maintenance HOAS/Välittömiä toimenpiteitä vaativat vikailmoitukset
phone 020 4912720
service 020 4912720
Insurance company If
tel. 010 191919
http://www.if.fi
Gathering area Miestentie bicycle path
Back-up gathering area The authority will define when necessary
Number of civil defence shelters 1
Location of civil defence shelter VSS1 Ground floor corridor, on the side of Miestentie. Used as a storage space
Electricity switchboard
Electricity switchboard
Heat distribution room
Heat distribution room
Main water cut-off valve
Main water cut-off valve

Important phone numbers

Important numbers of the property

Task Name Telephone number Service phone number
Maintenance company HOAS/Välittömiä toimenpiteitä vaativat vikailmoitukset 020 4912720 020 4912720
Lift maintenance KONE Hissit Oy 0800 15063

Other important numbers

Operator Telephone number Duty hours
Public emergency numbers 112 24 h
Poison information centre 0800 147 111 24 h

Contact with property management

www.hoas.fi

All fault notifications related to the apartment, property and yard areas are submitted online by filling in the fault notification on the HOAS website www.hoas.fi. With the fault notification form, we will receive an accurate description of the problem efficiently and accurately to the property maintenance as well as the customer's consent for visiting the apartment. For these reasons we do not receive fault notifications by telephone or email.

Fault notifications requiring immediate measures (e.g. piping leaks, broken windows) shall be called in at the 24h service number 020 491 2720. Securitas is responsible for receiving them.

In an urgent emergency situation, call 112.

You should always call 112 in urgent, real emergency situations when life, health, property or the environment is threatened or in danger or if there is reason to believe this is the case.

If you doubt whether the situation is an emergency or not, it is always better to call 112 than not to call. When should you call 112?

*When you encounter an emergency situation or require urgent help from the authorities *When you suspect life, health, property or the environment is threatened or in danger.

Call emergency number 112 for example when

  • you notice an accident or fire
  • you notice a crime is happening or has happened
  • there is need for an ambulance or social worker

Risks

From the point of view of safety and security, a risk is the combination of the probability of an accident happening and the possible consequences. Recognising risks in any property is an important part of safety and security. In the following pages, risks related to individuals, property, and environment are recognised. For all recognised risks, there are suggestions on how to act accordingly to eliminate, diminish, and manage risks. Only a recognised risk can be controlled.

Risk classifications concerning the property and people:

  • Accidents
  • Fire hazards
  • Water damage
  • Cases of illness
  • Radiation or gas hazard
  • Storm damage
  • Break-ins, vandalism, etc.

Accidents

Risks

  • falling down
  • slipping
  • tripping
  • snow or ice falling down on people or property
  • traffic accidents
  • high drop
  • injury caused by work equipment
  • obstacles along the rescue route

Consequences

  • damage to property
  • personal injuries
  • death

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • The company has delegated sanding, the monitoring of necessary snow and ice dropping and snow clearing to a property services company.
    • The company actively monitors the operations and actively intervenes in shortcomings.
    • The company can forbid self-initiated snow dropping and intervene in it if necessary.
  • The build-up of snow and ice on roofs must be monitored in the winter.
    • Hazard spots are to be reported immediately to property maintenance company.
    • In hazardous situations traffic or parking must be prevented in the area where ice or snow can fall down.
  • The yard area is to be kept neat and in good condition. Vegetation is tended to regularly.
    • Leaves are raked when necessary.
    • Shrubs and bushes must be maintained neat to avoid traffic accidents.
    • Driving directions and guest parking spaces are to be marked clearly in the parking area with appropriate signs.
    • Winter upkeep will be taken care of.
  • Close call -situations are intervened with immediately. Close call -situations are investigated and necessary measures are taken to counteract the situation to prepare for and prevent similar situations.
  • Everyone must familiarise themselves with the general first aid instructions.

Fire hazards

Risks

  • short circuits
  • fire caused by a broken electronic appliance
  • grease or other fire in the kitchen
  • careless smoking
  • arson
  • a fire caused by children playing
  • accidentally leaving electronic appliances on
  • fire load on the side of the building
  • storing items in passageways
  • storing items in staircases
  • fire doors open
  • unattended burning of candles
  • obstacles along the rescue route

Fire-hazardous locations are, for example the kitchen of the apartments, sauna and storage space, the public sauna, the laundry room, the drying room, club facilities, technical areas and other equivalent property areas.

Consequences

  • damage to property
  • smoke damage
  • personal injuries
  • death

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • Independent fire inspections are performed yearly within the property
  • It is important to take care of exiting safety:
    • exits are to be clear
    • possible installation of exit route signs
    • installing phosphorescent floor numbers in the staircase
    • active intervention in defects.
  • The property has a smoke extraction system which is inspected, serviced and tested as per the device manufacturer's service programme.
  • Every resident must make sure their own smoke detector(s) are operational (one smoke detector per 60 square meters in each floor). Additionally, it is recommended to get a fire blanket for every kitchen.
  • The property has a fire alarm system.
  • An additional fire load is not accumulated.
  • The rescue plan is kept up to date and studied.
  • Electrical repairs and installations are contracted to TUKES-registered professionals. The contractor must have sufficient installation certificates and experience from similar work.
  • Lighting and general cleanliness in the property is important.
    • Inspecting the adequacy of the lighting and performing necessary actions to fix the situation.
  • Additionally, Close Call situations need to be intervened in immediately, investigated, and necessary actions must be taken to prevent similar occurrences.
  • The rescue routes at the property have been marked and they are to be kept clear.
  • Electrical switchboards are marked and materials are not kept in front of them.
  • Ventilation and sweeping
    • The time period between cleaning AC ducts is usually 10 years.
    • Technical property manager is responsible for cleaning and sweeping of the AC ducts.
  • The resident is responsible for acquiring smoke detectors and fire blankets.

Water damage

Risks

  • flood
  • heavy rain
  • waterproofing failure of structures
  • an accident caused by structural and material errors
  • washing machines and refrigerators breaking down
  • vandalism
  • broken pipes

Consequences

  • damage to property

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • The location of the main water stopcocks is marked.
  • HWA works, inspections, and installations are contracted only to professionals.
    • An HWA contractor must possess sufficient installation certificates and the contractor must have done similar work before.
    • HWA inspections are carried out in accordance with the service programme.
  • An assessment of the state of the plumbing is carried out regularly.
  • Independent change construction and other building work must be supervised and defects concerning the building must be intervened in immediately.
  • Supervised use of household appliances and emphasising the importance of their maintenance.
    • The filters and lint strainer in the dish washer and the laundry machine must be cleaned once a month.
    • It is recommended to vacuum behind the fridge once a month, or at least once a year. When you do this, it is recommended to have a quick look at the compressor and drain pan as well.
    • A drain pan should be installed under every larger kitchen appliance (e.g. fridge, freezer, dishwasher, and sometimes laundry machine), which will make the detection of water damage faster and easier.
  • Leaves on the roof and in the gutters should be removed in late autumn.
  • Pre-emptive maintenance of washing machines. Maintenance is to be done yearly by a professional and certified business.

Cases of illness

Risks

  • heart failure
  • diabetic shock
  • stroke
  • cerebral haemorrhage
  • epilepsy
  • fainting
  • obstacles along the rescue route

Consequences

  • personal injuries
  • death

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • Guaranteeing speedy access to help within the property.
  • Everyone should familiarise themselves with the first aid guidelines attached to the rescue plan and giving first aid should be rehearsed.
  • Listing individuals skilled in first-aid is recommended.
  • The stopping of rescue vehicles outside the exterior doors is to be made possible.

Radiation or gas hazard

Risks

  • radioactive substances or dangerous gases getting into the environment
  • an explosion caused by a nuclear weapon or containing nuclear material
  • an accident while transporting a dangerous substance
  • war
  • an accident in a nuclear plant
  • an accident on a nuclear-powered vessel
  • an accident in a nuclear waste-processing facility
  • radioactive material ending up in the wrong hands

Consequences

  • radiation sicknesses
  • death

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • Acquiring iodine pills as needed (2 tablets per person).
  • Stocking up on home storage supplies.
  • The air ventilation emergency stop is marked with signs.
  • The safety and security organisation must be aware of the air ventilation emergency stop's location.
  • Making a guide in case of accidents involving dangerous substances.
  • The property has a civil defence shelter that can be used for shelter in the event of a radiation hazard.
  • The operating condition of the civil defence shelter is maintained.
  • Possibility of taking shelter in the civil defence shelter.
  • There are instructions for different situations in the rescue plan.
  • Everyone must familiarise themselves with the operating instructions.

Storm damage

Risks

  • various natural phenomena

Consequences

  • blackouts
  • damage to property
  • personal injuries
  • death

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • A knowledgeable maintenance company will check roofs and gutters, and fix deficiencies.
  • Checking the trees on the property.
  • Removal of dangerous branches.
  • General maintenance of the yard.
  • The curfew set by the authorities must be respected.
  • When taking shelter indoors, you must stay away from windows and glass doors.
  • Prepare yourself independently for long power blackouts by, for example:
    • home storage supplies
    • a lamp and batteries
    • candles and fire-making tools
    • a battery-operated radio

Criminal activity

Risks

  • apartment break-in
  • graffiti
  • ruining and destruction of property

Consequences

  • damage to property

Actions and safety and security preparations

  • Supervising general cleanliness and order, and intervening actively in shortcomings.
    • Cleanliness and order are a part of safety.
  • Inspecting the adequacy of the lighting and performing necessary actions to fix the situation.
  • Entrance doors should be maintained and systems limiting access should be installed.
  • Marking and photographing of valuables.
  • Graffiti and other smudges and smears should be cleaned without delay.

Safety procedures

Safety equipment

Smoke extraction

The purpose of smoke ventilation is to remove fire gases, smoke and heat from the premises. The smoke ventilation equipment must be maintained and tested regularly according to the user maintenance instructions. The smoke ventilation equipment may only be used by the rescue services.

Smoke removal machine
Location of smoke extraction hatches Smoke vents are located on the roofs of the stairwells. Smoke vents are located at both ends of the corridors on each floor.
Description - Remote controlled smoke vents are located in the stairwells (in the roof of the main stairwell and the emergency exit stairwell at the other end of the building). Vents are triggered on the ground floor of these stairwells.
- Remote controlled smoke vents in the corridors on each floor. Vents are at both ends of the corridors. Vents are triggered on the landings of the main stairwell.
-The ventilation engine room has a smoke vent that can be triggered remotely from the 7th floor main stairwell (just as the vents in the floor corridor).
- The smoke vent in the main stairwell is remote controlled. The trigger is located by the front door leading out of the main stairwell.
-. Smoke removal from the civil defence shelter is done through the emergency exit hatch.
Location of centre At the ground floor main switchboard
Smoke removal activation By the entrances of the stairwells and on the landings of the main stairwell
Smoke ventilation can be triggered at the main door
Smoke ventilation can be triggered at the main door

Ventilation emergency stop

If the building is subjected to an external danger, such as fire gases from an adjacent building, the ventilation must be shut off. In such a case, the rescue authorities usually issue an emergency warning, providing additional instructions, such as to turn off ventilation systems.

Air ventilation can be stopped by anyone.

Ventilation emergency stop: At the door of the main entrance of the stairwell and at the door of the emergency exit stairwell located at one end of the building

Air-conditioning emergency stop
Air-conditioning emergency stop

Fire safety

Smoke detector

The purpose of fire alarms is to alert of any imminent fire. This will enable measures to extinguish the fire, warn others and take rescue measures.

Smoke detector
Location Fire alarms connected to the electric mains are located in the apartments and in the stairwells
Description Fire alarms are connected to the electric mains. The alarms have backup batteries: every alarm has an individual battery.
Coverage Apartments, stairwell
System model Mains
Type of alarm Localised alarm

Rescue route

The rescue way is a drive way, which the rescue department's vehicles can use in emergency situations to reach to within close proximity of the building.

  • It is not permitted to park cars, pile up snow, set up lampposts, plant vegetation, or do, leave, or set up anything else that might block traffic on the rescue way.
  • Escape routes must be indicated with a text sign in accordance with Ministry of the Interior decree no. 468 of 2003.
  • A rescue way sign is not used if the rescue way is not marked in the building's construction permits.
  • Please contact rescue authorities for advice on any escape route questions.
Rescue route
Location From Miestentie, past the parking lot, in front of the building
Area guide
Area guide
Rescue route
Rescue route

Emergency exit routes

The principle of exit safety is that all spaces of the building must have at least two exit routes at all times, which do not require keys or other tools to open the doors. Exiting must also be possible to do in the dark, which is why the exit routes must be clear at all times. Because the property has 8 floors, the window or apartment- specific balcony shall serve as an emergency exit. In this event, the rescue department shall assist in evacuating the building in case of emergency. Objects are not to be stored in front of the exits. (Environment Ministry's regulation of fire safety of buildings.)

Exit ways and doors leading to them must be easily accessible and openable in emergency situations from the inside.

A door can be locked, for example, to prevent trespassing from the outside, but must it must be possible to open it from the inside without a key during the normal use of the building.

Never exit into a smoky stairway.

Hot work

Hot work is defined as work in which sparks arise or in which naked flames or other heat sources are used and may cause a fire hazard. Such work includes e.g. oxyacetylene and arc welding, flame and arc cutting, disc cutting and metal grinding, which create sparks, as well as work involving the use of gas burners, other open fire or combustion air blowers.

Performing hot work at a temporary hot work site always requires a permission granted by a person responsible for the hot work. The hot work permission ensures the actions of the different parties regarding safety and fire protection. The person conducting the hot work must have a hot work licence.

The property manager office grants the hot work permissions.

Action guidelines

The following pages contain a guide on accident prevention and on how to act in accident and danger situations. Read the action guide carefully!

The correct actions, solutions, and choices prevent and limit accidents. This way accidents can be minimised or they can be prevented altogether.

Safety and security are our shared concern!

Alerting help

In all urgent emergency situations, whether it be a police, fire department, paramedic, or a social worker case involving an urgent need for help CALL THE EMERGENCY NUMBER: 112

Call the emergency number yourself if you can
It is important to make the emergency call yourself, if the matter concerns you. The victim has more knowledge on the situation, based on which the dispatcher can send help accordingly. Using middle-men to make the call can delay getting the right kind of help on site.
Tell what happened
The emergency centre dispatcher will ask the caller about what happened so that they can send the appropriate assistance.
Give the exact address and municipality
The emergency centre might have several same addresses in different municipalities/cities in its service area. Therefore it is also important to know the name of the town/city/municipality where the accident has taken place.
Answer the questions that are asked of you
The questions asked by the dispatcher are important. They do not delay alarming for help. In urgent cases the dispatcher already alerts the authorities and other partners during the call, and gives them more information on what has happened.
Act according to the information given to you
The dispatcher is trained to give instructions in various types of situations. It is important to follow the given instructions. Correct initial actions often play an important role in the end result.
End the call only after you're given permission to do so.
Ending the call too soon may delay the help from arriving. After you are given the permission to end the call, end it. Keep the phone line open. The dispatcher or the help on its way may need additional information on what has happened.

Sudden illness or accident

Find out what happened
  • Has the person fallen or fainted?
  • Are there possibly eye witnesses, that can tell you better about what has happened?
Check the person's condition
  • Can you wake the person up by talking or shaking?
Check breathing
  • If the person doesn't wake up, check breathing: place the back of your hand in front of the patient's mouth and feel if there is air flow.
Make an emergency call.
  • Call the number 112.
  • Tell where you are calling from.
  • Tell what happened
  • Act according to directions.
Give first aid if needed.
  • If the person is not breathing, start with first aid.
Turn an unconscious but breathing patient into the recovery position on their side.
Observe the patient.
  • If there are changes in the patient's condition before the rescue department arrives, notify them by calling the emergency number 112, so that the emergency centre can re-evaluate your situation.
Guide the professional help quickly to the patient
  • Tell the professional help what has happened and what has been done.

Fire

Save
  • Make an assessment of the situation. Rescue those in immediate danger.
  • Be careful not to breathe smoke! Smoke is highly toxic and you can lose consciousness quickly if you breathe it.
Warn
  • Warn others in the building about the fire and the threatening danger.
  • Direct people to the gathering area.
Alert
  • Call the emergency number 112 from a safe location.
  • Tell who you are, where the fire is (address and floor), what is on fire, and if there are people in danger.
  • Do not hang up the phone until you are given permission to do so.
Extinguish
  • Perform initial extinguishing measures, where possible.
  • A grease fire is extinguished by suffocating it with a fire blanket.
  • When an electrical appliance is on fire, disconnect power and begin extinguishing the fire.
Limit
  • Remove fire sensitive items and flammable liquids.
  • Contain the spread of fire and smoke by closing windows and the door as you exit.
Guide
  • Direct the rescue personnel to the location or arrange guidance. For example: one person stays to guide on the side of the parking lot and another next to the building.
Using the lift in the event of a fire is strictly forbidden!

In evacuation situations the gathering area is: Miestentie bicycle path

Back-up gathering area: The authority will define when necessary

Fire action guide, when safe exits are blocked

Sometimes a fire in another location prevents safe exit from the building. In these cases it is smartest to stay in a smokeless space and keep all doors and other openings closed.

Stay in the apartment and remain calm.
  • In apartment buildings, each apartment is its own fire compartment, and the spreading of fire from one apartment into the others has been prevented by structural measures.
  • Jumping from a height has fatal consequences, remaining in the apartment doesn't.
Go to a balcony or to a window and attract attention.
  • by shouting
  • by flashing lights
  • by waving something visible
  • you can also call 112 and tell the exact address of where you are.
Prepare for the spreading of the fire.
  • As a precaution, fill the bathtub and sink with water.
  • If smoke starts to get in to the apartment from cracks in the door, the postbox, or through air ventilation, air out the apartment with fresh air and seal the leaking cracks and openings with wet textiles.
  • If the apartment door starts heating up, cool it down with water.
  • If flames start hitting the apartment windows, move easily flammable items away from the window.
Follow directions from the authorities.

Action in the gathering area

Gathering area: Miestentie bicycle path
Gathering area
Gathering area

When people have left the building and proceeded to the gathering area, one person must be appointed to take responsibility for the activities at the gathering area. Based on the situation at hand, it is necessary to consider whether it is safe to remain in the designated gathering area or if people should be directed elsewhere, for example into a pre-arranged interior area or to a property in the vicinity (the back-up gathering area).

Do not leave the gathering area without the permission of the rescue authorities.

Factors to bear in mind in the gathering area:

  • taking care of any possible injured parties
  • looking after people with reduced mobility or otherwise poor physical condition
  • if one is aware of someone having remained inside, this is to be reported

Back-up gathering area

Back-up gathering area: The authority will define when necessary

In severe winter conditions or other situations, an additional gathering area may be needed. Authorities will also provide instructions about shelter locations for long-term shelter.

Assisting people with reduced mobility in emergency situations

In an emergency situation, the movement of people with reduced mobility out of the building may be difficult and slow. If you know there is a neighbour with reduced mobility, for example handicapped, blind, or elderly, try to secure their safe exit in emergency situations. If you know your neighbour is at home, but you are not able to assist in moving them out, notify the rescue authorities about the situation as fast as possible.

Work in cooperation with the other residents.

Things to consider when helping people with reduced mobility
  • Help a person with reduced mobility to exit, within the limits of your own capabilities.
  • Listen to the person you're helping.
  • Take care of the person you helped also after getting out.

Water damage

Action guide
  • Disconnect power from where the leak is and from its proximity.
  • Stop the water from flowing, from i.e. the water mains, if possible.
  • Notify of the situation immediately:
    • to the maintenance personnel: HOAS/Välittömiä toimenpiteitä vaativat vikailmoitukset, phone 020 4912720, service 020 4912720
  • Contact the emergency number if needed 112.
  • Main water shutoff: Heat distribution centre: on the right side of the main door, in the middle of the ground floor corridor, a maintenance room is located at the end of a small storage space
  • Heat distribution room: On the right side of the main door, in the middle of the ground floor corridor, a maintenance room is located at the end of the small storage space
  • Electricity switchboard: A maintenance room is located on the right side when entering through the main door of the stairwell on the ground floor
Should there be threat of water outside the building
  • Find out what is causing the water threat.
  • If there is a leak, try to block it.
  • Try to prevent the water from getting into the building.
    • by baggings
    • by using plastic covers
    • by directing the water away from the building
  • Call for additional help if needed.

Under threat of violence

In an unarmed threatening situation, act in the following way.

  • Act calmly and try to calm the person with your behaviour.
  • Make sure you do not turn your back or let yourself be cornered, so that you will always have an escape route when a threatening person comes close.
  • Call for help depending on the circumstances.
  • Escape and help others escape.

Take care of your own safety. Seek to direct the threatening person to a place where they cannot harm others. After the event, contact the police about the incident if required.

If the threatening person is armed, act in the following way.

  • Do not resist.
  • Do whatever the person threatening you tells you to do.
  • As the situation permits, try to warn others.
  • By closing doors, you can limit a person's movement within the property.
  • After the situation, call 112 to get professional help on site as fast as possible. Listen to directions and act accordingly.

Every threat and sighting of a possibly threatening situation must be taken seriously and the police must be informed immediately. Through your own behaviour, you can affect the progress of the situation, and thus you should take all threatening situations seriously and try to calm down already begun situations.

Public warning signal

The public warning signal is a one-minute-long ascending and descending tone or a warning announcement by the authorities. The length of the ascending tone is 7 seconds.

The public warning signal means an immediate danger threatening the public. The warning is given in population centres with an outdoor alarm system and with an alarm attached to a vehicle in rural areas.

The All Clear signal is a one-minute-long monotonous signal. It is an announcement of the threat or danger having passed.

Act in the following way after you've heard the public warning signal
  • Proceed indoors.
  • Stay indoors.
  • Close doors, windows, ventilation holes, and air conditioning devices.
  • Turn on the radio and wait for instructions.
  • Avoid using the phone to prevent telephone lines from getting jammed.
  • Do not leave the areas unless urged to do so by the authorities, so as not to endanger yourself on the way.

Gas hazard

Public warning signal in danger situations concerning gas

Additional information on the type of danger can be got from radio and television. The following are usually connected with a gas hazard.

  • If you are indoors and can smell gas:
    • stay indoors
    • the top floors make the best shelter
    • place a wet cloth over your mouth and breathe through it
    • stay on the upper floors until the danger is over.
  • If you are outside when you smell gas but are not able to get indoors:
    • hurry into side wind from underneath the gas cloud
    • try to get as high as possible, for example to the top of a hill
    • press a wet cloth, tuft of grass, turf, or moss in front of your mouth and breathe through it.
Additional information on taking cover from gas
  • Switch off air conditioning devices and close doors and windows tightly. The more airtight you can make the building, the slower the gas can get inside.
  • You can also close or tape inside doors and stay in upwind areas. If you smell gas you can breathe through a moist and spongy cloth.
  • The authorities will announce on radio or with vehicles with loudspeakers when the gas cloud has dispersed. Ventilate indoors well after the event.

Radiation hazard

Radiation situations are monitored with gauges throughout the country. Even the slightest change is detected immediately and notified of. A public warning signal is given upon the threat of radiation.

Go inside
Close doors, windows, ventilation holes, and air conditioning tightly to prevent radioactive substances from getting indoors. The centre of the building is the best place to take shelter.
Iodine tablets
Take an iodine tablet only when the authorities tell you to do so either on the radio or on television. Iodine tablets prevent radioactive iodine from building up in the thyroid gland, but offers no other protection. You should not go outside the facilities to look for iodine tablets when the danger situation is present. You can acquire iodine beforehand from the pharmacy. Each property should have 2 iodine tablets per person.
Protect your food and drinking water
Put the food products that are out into plastic bags or tight containers. The refrigerator, freezer, and tight packages protect against radioactive dust.
Moving outside
If you must go outside, use tight clothing that covers the skin, for example rain gear. Upon coming back inside, take off your clothes in the entry hall and wash up well. Use a respiratory mask, towel, or paper towel to prevent radioactive particles from getting to your lungs.
Additional instructions
You will get additional information from your city's rescue authorities, from broadcast media, and from Yle's (the Finnish Broadcasting Company's) Teletext page 867. You can also find information from the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority's website www.stuk.fi and from the rescue authorities website www.pelastustoimi.fi.

Blackouts

How to act during a power cut:

  • First check the fuses. If they are intact, find out whether the electricity of your neighbour or neighbouring houses is working.
  • If the electricity is out from a larger area, the problem is already known and actions to fix it have started. Most electricity suppliers have a taped recording of the malfunction on its fault service number, which will give information on the blackout situation in your area.
  • When the electricity comes back but acts unusually, for example the lights burn brighter or dimmer than usual, the reason might a break in the electricity network's neutral wire. This can result in equipment damage, fire and, in the worst case, the risk of electric shock. In such situations, switch off the electricity from the main switch and call your electricity supplier's fault emergency number.
  • When a power cut lasts longer, prepare yourself with warm clothes, especially in the winter, and home storage supplies. Instructions regarding home storage supplies can be found in the appendices.

In the event of a power cut, lifts will stop working. Should you be stuck on a lift due to a power cut or other failure, act as follows:

Contact the lift maintenance emergency line:

  • by mobile phone - (KONE Hissit Oy, 0800 15063) or
  • the emergency button inside the lift. (This will connect directly to the lift maintenance emergency line.)

When necessary, you can call the general emergency number 112.

Resetting the fire alarm

If the fire alarm is triggered e.g. by someone cooking, the alarm can be reset by pressing the push button on the side of the fire alarm.

In case of fire, do not reset the alarm. Instead, contact the emergency services and warn your neighbours.

Civil defence

The purpose of the civil defence shelter is to protect people from collapses, explosion pressure waves and fragments, gases, radiation and fire. This property has a civil defence shelter. It is recommended that a civil defence shelter have an elected manager and deputy. It is good for the property's shelter's manager to learn how to use the equipment and how to prepare the shelter for use.

In Finland there are enough civil defence shelters for approximately 3.8 million people. Civil defence shelters are found both in domestic and other properties. In addition to shelters in properties, there are also public ones, such as rock shelters. Such civil defence shelters are public, usually the responsibilitity of the cities and only located in major cities.

Under normal circumstances the shelters are used for various activities, such as sports or storage, or other kinds of useful purposes. A civil defence shelter must however be ready for use within 72 hours should the authorities give an order to prepare it.

With civil defence shelters it is important to protect metal parts from rusting, insulation staying intact, machinery remaining functional, and equipment kept safe in stock.

This property has a civil defence shelter:

Location Protection grade Location of equipment
Ground floor corridor, on the side of Miestentie. Used as a storage space S1 Equipment cage in civil defence shelter

The civil defence shelter is in class S1. The civil defence shelter in protection class S1 is a newer shelter, built after 1971. It is possible to stay in this shelter model for long time periods. The shelter has a manually operated or mechanical air intake machinery, equipped with a pre-filter and an activated carbon particle filter.

The authorities provide instructions by radio if it is necessary to move to civil defence shelters and information on which of the public shelters people are to move to. Moving into the civil defence shelters therefore always happens as a result of direction by the authorities. Accidents occurring in normal times do not generally ever require taking cover in civil defence shelters, with taking cover indoors being sufficient. There are 110,000 spaces altogether in the civil defence shelters of Finland.

Storing in the property

Storage of different kinds of objects may lead to a hazard of fire starting or spreading, the prevention of safe exit in an emergency situation and increased difficulty in extinguishing the fire. It is easier to prevent a fire pre-emptively than to extinguish it. For this reason it is necessary to know what causes fires and to recognise the hazardous factors in one's own immediate environment. Rescue law contains directives on, for example, the storage of easily flammable materials and other objects within buildings. Legislation on chemicals contains restrictions on storage of flammable liquids and other dangerous chemicals in spaces where they can cause an exceptional hazard. Many substances which are kept at home also generate explosive gases that ignite from a spark, for example the spark caused by a light switch - so fire is not even needed for ignition. Therefore always handle fire- hazardous substances in accordance with instructions. Storing fire hazardous substances in apartment-specific storage rooms is strictly forbidden. Storing them in apartments and garages is limited.

The building's exit hallways and staircase areas must be kept walkable and clear of any obstacles.

Apartments and the balconies, terraces or equivalent areas belonging to them
  • If storage is possible without endangering safety, the following can be stored:
    • flammable liquids and aerosols containing flammable liquids or flammable gases, up to a maximum amount of 25 litres
    • up to 25 kg of liquid gas
    • fireworks, up to 5 kg (net weight), must be stored in a locked closet accordingly with no heat sources or handling of fire, which could cause the fireworks to explode
  • Flammable gases, other than the aforementioned, must not be stored in the apartment.
  • Storing of unnecessary items in the apartments should be avoided.
Exit corridors, staircases, inside hallways, and storage area passages
  • It is not permitted to store any items.
Under or near buildings
  • It is not permitted to store flammable material or other goods by the walls of the building, e.g. garbage containers, piles of cardboard, or transportation trays
  • Refuse containers outside, as well as refuse shelters, are to be positioned at least 8 metres away from the building
A separate storage space belonging to the residential building residential building)
  • It can store:
    • flammable liquids and aerosols containing flammable liquids or flammable gases, up to a maximum total amount of 50 litres
    • up to 50 kg of liquid gas
Attention!
  • The rescue authorities can permit single case exceptions, for example for storing a larger amount or allowing storage in a different place or limit storing, if safety requires that