Home Fire Escape Plans

Getting out of your own home sounds easy, but everything looks very different when it's full of smoke.

Draw a floor plan of your home.

Mark two ways out of every room, door, and window and the location of all smoke alarms.

Mark an easy way out of each room.

Then find a second way out. Discuss the escape routes with every member of your household. Include anyone's special needs in your plan.

Pick a meeting place outside of your home.

Tell everyone to meet there after they've escaped, so you can make sure everyone got out. Call the fire department from outside your home.

Once out, stay out. Never go back into the building until the firefighters say it is safe.

Hold a home fire drill twice a year.

Pretend that some escape routes are blocked by smoke or fire and practice using alternative exits.

Start the drill by pushing the buton on a smoke detector and yelling: "FIRE!" "EVERYBODY OUT!"

Follow your escape plan and leave the building quickly.

Pretend some ways out are blocked by flame or smoke. That's when you might use your second way out of a room.

 

ESCAPE TIPS

  1. If you see smoke as you escape, try another escape route.
  2. If you have to escape through smoke, crawl low to your exit. Keep your head one to two feet (30 to 60 centimeters) above the floor. That's where the air will be cleanist.
  3. Test doorknobs and the space between the door and it's frame with the back of your hand before opening doors. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it's cool, open it slowly. Be ready to slam the door shut if smoke pours through.
  4. Never go back into the building for any reason, until it's safe. If someone is trapped inside, tell the firefighters.