Make a Family Fire Escape Plan

You probably remember those fire drills in school with the flashing, blaring alarms and everyone walking outside to stand single file while taking roll.  It was boring but we loved it nonetheless because we got out of class.  And without our realizing it, we were receiving early lessons in emergency preparedness.

Recent fires raging in the western United States and other places have brought up the question, "When was the last time I made a home fire escape plan?"  And honestly, for me it has been a while.  So here are some guidelines to help us create a plan.  Set aside an evening, call all the family together, and practice where you'd go and what you'd do in the event of a fire in your home.  Save yourself the heartache of "I was going to get to it but just didn't have time!" because that won't help your family in an emergency.

1. Draw a basic map of your home showing all doors and windows.
2. Go to each room. Find two exits (usually a door and a window) and indicate them on your map.  Test all doors and windows to make sure they open easily and let your kids practice opening them.
3. Mark each smoke alarm in your home on your map with a circled SA.  Test each one to make sure it is working properly.  (You should have at least one per level in your home, typically between the sleeping areas and the rest of the house.  If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, have major appliances that could cause a fire, or smoke in your room, you will want to add an additional alarm to that room.)  
4. Pick a meeting place at the front of your house where all family members will gather.  Mark this meeting place with a star on your map.  Make sure your house/building number can be seen from the street.
5. Learn the number for your local fire department or have it easily accessible.
6. Practice your family fire escape plan with the whole family.  You should practice at least twice a year at different times of the day and with different scenarios.  Practice crawling in case of lots of smoke.  When you come to a closed door, practice feeling the doorknob and door to see if they are hot.  Practice taking alternate routes if a fire is on the other side of a closed door.  You should also teach children to stay out of the house once they have left.  If a family member or pet is trapped inside, inform firefighters immediately since they are equipped to handle such situations safely.  

You might also consider calling your local fire department to ask about taking a tour.  This can be especially beneficial for small children to be familiar with firefighters and feel more trusting of them in an emergency.

Go to http://www.sparky.org/downloads/escape_plan.PDF or http://www.scholastic.com/firesafety/escapeplan/ for free printables and helps to make a family fire escape plan.