Home Fire Escape Planning
April provides perfect weather for your family to test your home fire escape plan. Plan Ahead! If a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.
Your Plan:
- Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, bush, fence post) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home. Do so twice a year.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Include Contingencies, such as first floor sleeping areas and assistance by other occupants, for infants and the infirm.
- Close doors behind you as you leave.
If the Alarm Sounds:
- If the smoke alarm sounds, Get Out and Stay Out. Never go back inside for people or pets.
- If you must escape through smoke, Get Low and Go under the smoke to your way out. If needed, crawl on your hands and knees.
- Call 911 from outside your home.
Be Sure to Have:
- Working Smoke Detectors on each level and in each bedroom of your home
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors if you have any fuel burning appliances in your home.
According to a National Fire Protection Association survey: Only one of Every Three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan!