With proper preparedness, you can help keep your family safe from fire. Two easy steps are: 1) Testing the smoke alarms in your house and; 2) creating and practicing a fire escape plan.

ESCAPE DRILLS IN THE HOME

Every family should have an exit plan for their home. To keep you and your family safe, follow these simple steps to create your very own plan.

• Gather all members of your family together.
• Visit each bedroom and pick 2 ways out of the room. One way is the normal way out, and the other way is the emergency route, which could be a different door or window.
• Plan how each family member can reach the ground using the emergency route.
• Decide on a meeting place outside the house, such as under a certain tree or near the mailbox.

ESCAPE RULES IN A FIRE

• Always sleep with the bedroom door closed.
• If there is a fire, stay calm. Don’t panic. Let your family know you are alright.
• Don’t hide under a bed or in a closet during a fire.
• If your room is filled with smoke, fall and crawl to the door to escape heat and smoke.
• Test the door before you open it by feeling the top of the door with the back of your hand.
• If the door is hot, DO NOT open it. Fall and crawl to the second way out of the room.
• Meet your family at the designated location away from the house.
• NEVER re-enter a burning building.

FIRE PREVENTION – SAFETY TIPS

TWO WAYS OUT

Every room should have two ways out. One way would be the door, and the second may be a window. If your first way out is blocked by fire or smoke, you should use your second way out. Emergency escape from a second-story window may involve using a home fire safety ladder. If your escape plan includes an escape ladder, you can just go ahead and practice using it from a first-floor window with everyone.

WORKING SMOKE ALARMS

Ensure your home has at least one smoke alarm on every level and outside the sleeping areas. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, a smoke alarm should be installed inside your bedroom. Test your smoke alarms each month by pushing the test button and replacing the batteries once a year or when it makes a chirping sound, which means the battery is running low.

OUTSIDE MEETING PLACE

You can pick a family meeting place outside the home, where everyone will meet once they have escaped. A good meeting place would be a tree, a streetlight, a telephone pole, or a neighbor’s home. Be sure to stay a safe distance from emergency vehicles.

LOTS OF PRACTICE

Practice your plan with your family at least twice a year. Get your family together tonight and practice your “great escape.” Remember: Never go back inside a burning building. Once you’re out, stay out!

For more information, please visit:

Fire Prevention | FASNY

Public Education - NFPA