The Escape Plan
An escape plan
is important for the safety of you and your
family in case of a fire. It's a diagram of
your home. But a plan is is not enough
alone. The plan must be practiced by
everyone.
 Prepare the Escape
Plan
Start by all of the
family taking part. Draw a diagram of your
home showing the walls and the location of
the windows and doors. Then draw the route
from every room to the outside. An
additional route should exit each room in
case the original route is blocked. This
would probably be through a window.
Everyone in the home
should be familiar with the routes to
outside from each room. Then plan where
everybody should meet. This should be in the
front yard near the sidewalk. You will know
that everyone else got out alright when
there is a fire. meeting near the front
sidewalk enables you to flag down the
firefighters when they arrive.
An important point is
to NEVER go back once you get outside. do
not go back to rescue your valuables, a pet
or even it is your brother or sister. Many
people have died going back into a burning
after escaping from a burning building. Wait
for the firefighters and tell them who is
still missing.
Do not take the
time to call the fire department before you
escape. You can call 9-1-1 after you get
out.
Safety Before A
Fire
You have your
escape plan which is mighty important.
Things to do that goes along with an escape
plan are:
- It is best to
have a smoke alarm in every room. If you
have just one smoke alarm, mount the one
smoke alarm on the ceiling near the
bedrooms.
- Test the smoke
alarm, usually by pressing a button on
the smoke alarm once a month.
- Change the
batteries of smoke alarms once a year.
- Practice your
escape plan periodically. Have a live
drill once a year. This should involve
the whole family.
- Keep escape
routes clear throughout the home. Don't
store anything in or near a route.
- Make sure
windows are maintained and work easily.
These could be needed when a main escape
route is blocked.
 What to Do In Case
of Fire
Roll off the bed and
crawl near the floor. Heat and smoke rises.
Good air is near the floor. Crawl to the
door and feel the door before opening it. If
the door is cool, it is safe to open the
door and procede along your escape route.
Otherwise you must use your alternate route.
Go to the meeting
spot by the front sidewalk. Notify the fire
department after you're safely outside. Then
stay until the fire department arrives and
tell them all you know about the fire. Stay
back and let the firefighters put out the
fire.
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