A home fire can turn dangerous in a matter of moments. Having a home escape plan can be a critical part of escaping safely. Here are some steps for creating your own.
By Daniel Anderson, Cy-Fair Fire Department
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to safely escape from the time the smoke alarm sounds. In those moments, confusion and panic can set in. That’s where an escape plan comes in. Having a plan in place that you’ve practiced can help minimize chaos so you can act quickly.
Every family needs to know exactly what to do and where to go in the event of a fire. Taking time to make a plan and practice it greatly increases the likelihood that everyone in the household is prepared, no matter what happens.
In honor of Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12), here are the key steps to developing an effective home escape plan.
Make it a family affair. Gather together everyone in your household to make the plan. Do a walk-through of your home and find all possible exits and escape routes.
When you’re walking through your home, you should also check that doors and windows can be easily opened and that escape routes are clear of furniture and other obstructions.
Draw a map. Sketch out the floor plan of your home and include all windows and doors. Mark escape routes in each room. The NFPA recommends that you have at least two ways out of each room. Also, note where each smoke alarm is located.
Choose an outside meeting spot. This will be where everyone plans on meeting after they’ve escaped. This can be a neighbor’s house, a light pole, a mailbox, a tree—you decide what works best for your family. Just make sure it is a safe distance from your home.
Don’t forget smoke alarms. As part of your plan, install properly working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside of common sleeping areas, and on every level of your home. Test your alarms monthly and replace your batteries twice a year.
Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse fire drills at least twice a year. Try practicing during both daytime and nighttime to make sure everyone can escape quickly and safely under any circumstance.
If you have children, teach them how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them. Also teach children when and how to emergency dial on a cell phone and how to call 911. Review with them regularly.
Finally, once you’re out, stay out! Never go back in a burning building and don’t stop for belongings on the way out. If someone is missing, let the emergency dispatcher know when you call from your safe meeting place.
With fire emergencies offering little time to react, a well-planned and well-rehearsed strategy can be the difference between life and death. By taking these steps, you are not only protecting your household but also helping first responders focus on the emergency at hand.
