Tragedy scenario: drank, smoked, fell asleep, didn't wake up

March 11, 2025

Alcohol and smoking in bed are constant companions of fires and causes of death. This is an undeniable truth. Most fires and other emergencies are the result of people's carelessness. And tragedies in fires most often occur where alcohol is consumed and people smoke in bed. Careless handling of fire while smoking is the "top" reason, holding a leading position among others. The statistics of fire incidents caused by this reason are disheartening: for the current period of 2025, 225 "cigarette" fires have been recorded in the republic, and the death toll from this cause has reached 109 people. So, isn't it time to change something?

It is no secret that events with loss of life often unfold according to the scenario: drank – smoked – fell asleep – didn't wake up. Even if we exclude the first link from this chain, sad consequences cannot be avoided. So why neglect fire safety rules and put at risk not only your property and health, but also your life? And if a drunk smoker on the street might drop a burning cigarette on the ground or asphalt, at home it falls on the floor or into bed.

In the best-case scenario, the consequences are burns of varying degrees of severity and significant material damage, but, as a rule, negligent smokers pay a price far greater than can be expressed in monetary terms – life, and often not just their own life.

The perpetrators of fires often die not from the fire itself, but as a result of poisoning by combustion products. In a state of alcohol intoxication, people are unable to perceive reality adequately, and, as a consequence, the instinct of self-preservation is dulled. They fall asleep with an unextinguished cigarette, which first ignites bedding, and then other property.

The best thing you can do for your safety is to give up the tandem of cigarettes and alcohol.

The fire that occurred on February 23 in the Glubokoe district became a confirmation of this simple truth. In the evening of that day, rescuers of the Glubokoe District Department for Emergency Situations received an alarming report of a fire in a residential building in the village of Stanuli on Stroiteley Street. The "101 service" workers, who promptly arrived at the scene, saw open burning. Upon entering the house, they discovered the body of the homeowner's cohabitant. Unfortunately, that evening he forgot about his own safety, became a victim of a fiery emergency situation, and wrote the most tragic scenario of his life: he drank, smoked, fell asleep, and did not wake up. The preliminary cause of the fire is trivial – careless handling of fire while smoking in bed.

However, this tragedy, like most others, could have been avoided if people did not allow negligence, irresponsibility, and carelessness in handling fire, if autonomous smoke detectors had been installed in their homes. This is the most accessible means capable of protecting people and their homes from the terrible consequences of a fire. The device reacts to the slightest smoke, emitting a powerful sound signal that can be heard not only by a sleeping person but also by their neighbors. Its maintenance does not require significant financial costs: it is only necessary to replace the "Krona" type battery once a year and clean the smoke detector from dust. The necessity of installing detectors in every home is undeniable. After all, this device saves the most important thing for a person – their life.

What should be done if the detector actually goes off?

First of all, you need to assess the situation, says the expert. It is believed that a person can cope with a fire on an area no larger than a soccer ball on their own. If this is not possible, it is better to dial the emergency services number and then clearly follow the dispatcher's instructions.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones!