How to Prepare an At-Home Fire Safety Plan
Every home should be prepared for a fire emergency. Tragedy often happens when we are least prepared for it. The entire family should sit down together and draw up a safety escape plan. Every one, even small children must know what to do, as every second counts in the event of a fire.
- Equip your home with a smoke alarm and fire extinguishers. Each floor needs a separate smoke alarm. Make sure that the smoke alarm batteries are changed each year. Some people pick January 1st or when daylight saving time starts to put in new batteries. Check your alarm instructions; some companies suggest replacing the unit every ten years.
- Have a plan of exit and practice fire drills with children. Draw a map of your home showing all rooms, windows, doors and hallways. There should be two ways out of each room. The hall may be filled with smoke or filled with flames. Test the widows and make sure they can be easily opened. If you have bars on the widows, be sure everyone knows how to unlock them. If you have rooms upstairs, you need a collapsible escape ladder in each room.
- Designate a meeting place outside of the home. Most people’s first thought is to go across the street. You can also name a certain tree, the end of the driveway or even the mailbox and front sidewalk. The main thing is to make sure everyone is accounted for and no one gets hurt looking for someone who is already out of the house and safe.
- Teach children not to crawl under the bed or hide from firefighters. Never go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters and let them do the job they
are equipped and trained for. - Be sure your street number is clearly visible from the street. If not, paint it on the curb. You can also put up large house numbers on the mailbox or front of the house. The emergency
personnel can’t help if they can’t find your home.