If a fire occurred in your home tonight, would your family know how to get out safely? It is important that everyone knows what to do and where to go when the smoke alarm sounds. Take a few minutes to make a home fire escape plan, by following these steps:
- Draw a floor plan of your home including all levels.
- Include all possible emergency exits.
- Draw in all doors, windows, and stairways. This will show you and your family all possible escape routes at a glance. Include any features such as the roof of a garage or porch, that would help in your escape.
- Show two ways out of every room, if possible. The door will be the main exit from each room. However, if the door is blocked by smoke or fire, choose an alternate escape route. Make sure that all windows can open easily and that everyone knows how to escape through the window.
- Identify anyone who needs assistance to escape.
- Decide in advance who will help the very young, seniors, or people with disabilities in your household. A few minutes of planning will save valuable seconds in a real emergency.
- Choose a meeting place outside such as a porch across the road, a big tree, or a street sign. In case of fire, everyone will go directly to this meeting place so they can be accounted for.
- Call the fire department from outside your home, it is imperative that you exit immediately before calling the fire department.
- Practice your escape regularly.
- Review the plan with everyone in your household. In a real fire, you must react without hesitation as your escape routes may be quickly blocked by smoke or flames.
