What action should be taken if smoke is encountered while escaping a fire?

When smoke is encountered while escaping a fire, the recommended action is to cover your mouth and stay low to the ground. This is important because smoke rises, and the air closer to the ground is typically clearer and contains less harmful gases. By staying low, you can better navigate through the area with reduced exposure to toxic smoke and improve your chances of survival.

In addition, covering your mouth can help minimize inhalation of harmful smoke particles. Smoke can contain a variety of toxic chemicals that can impair breathing and consciousness. Thus, maintaining a low position while covering your mouth is an effective strategy to enhance safety and improve the likelihood of a successful escape from a fire situation.