Do you have a plan? Have you practiced a home fire drill? Now is the perfect time to test it out.
Plan your escape:
- Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with your children.
- Have a fire escape plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. Talk about who will help each child get outside safely.
- Children should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. Help them practice going to your outside meeting place.
- Teach children to get outside and stay outside and to never go back inside a building that is on fire.
- Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, up high, and preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Explain that fire moves very fast and can hurt as soon as it touches them. Tell them that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.
- Be a good example! Always use fire sources - matches, lighters, candles, fireplaces, and campfires - in a safe manner. Never treat them as toys, or children may imitate you.
Escape planning begins with drawing a map of your home and sharing it with everyone in the household.
- Draw all levels of your home in the map and include all doors and windows. Mark the smoke alarms in your home with a circled SA, for "Smoke Alarm.'
- Know at least two ways our of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet. In a real emergency, call 9-1-1 or the fire department from outside your hoe.
- Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least one during the day and at night.
- make sure children, older adults, and people with disabilities get assistance waking up or getting out, if needed.
- Close doors behind you as you leave. A closed door can slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
It's also the perfect time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms!
Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
Make sure your smoke alarms meet the needs of everyone in your home, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
Check out the link to find out all the information about Home Fire Escape plans and Drills along with downloadable examples and other safety information.