BUREAU OF FIRE

FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION

MAKE YOUR PLANS!

1. List all possible escape routes from your home. Fire is unpredictable. Your first or even your second escape route may be blocked. The more escape routes you have, the better.

2. Locate two escape routes from each sleeping area. Usually the alternate escape route from each sleeping area will be a window. It must not be painted shut or blocked by furniture or a screw-on-screen.

Step 3. Draw a floor plan.

3. Draw a floor plan of your home. This will show you all possible escape routes at a glance.

4. On your floor plan, indicate primary and alternate routes from each room. Each person must understand that, if the first exit seems dangerous, he or she must immediately use the second escape route.

5. Designate a meeting place outside and mark it on your floor plan. Choose a spot that every one will remember. Use the front of your home if you can, away from the house. Like a tree or maybe a mailbox.

And remember, once outside, no one goes back in for any reason, until the fire department says it’s safe. They will usually arrive at the front of the house.

6. Locate a neighbor’s home from which to call the fire department. Include this in the floor plan, long with the emergency number and the street address of your home.

7. Go over the entire plan with every member of your family. Discuss the floor plan and explain each route. Walk through the escape routes for each room with the family. Use this walk-through to check your escape routes, making sure all exits are accessible. Do windows open easily? Be sure no heavy furniture blocks your escape path. Have your children memorize the emergency phone number and practice saying the family name, street address, and town, as they would if calling in an emergency.

8. Train every child in your home to follow the plan. Fire is frightening. All too often, the bodies of young children are found after a fire in places where they tried to hide. So teach your young children, even very young, that they can’t hide from fire. They must escape from it.

9. Hold a fire drill at least once every six months. Once you’re sure everyone in your home understands the escape procedure, try an unannounced drill to make the experience as realistic as possible.

So who’s EDITH, and what does she have to do with fire escape planning?

Learn more about Exit Drills In The Home…