How to Create a Family Fire Escape Plan

Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency is always crucial. Within your home, it is critical to have an escape plan in case there is a fire, especially if you have children, elderly or disabled persons living in your house. Being prepared for a fire ahead of time will increase your odds of making a safe exit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Sit down with everyone living in your home to discuss what you will do in the event of a fire. Everyone should be present so that you will all know what to do.

2. Draw a floor plan of your home and indicate the escape routes from each room. Mark a spot outside of the house where everyone should meet after exiting the house.

3. Provide an exit strategy from windows on the second floor. This might be a rope ladder that can be stored near the window inside the room.

4. Talk to your children about fire safety, including how to know when it's safe to exit a closed door and what to do if the room is filled with smoke.

5. Repair any broken or damaged windows around the house so that you can climb out easily. Teach children the proper way to break a window in the event that this becomes necessary.

6. Practice your escape routes and implement fire drills to prepare your family, should they ever need to evacuate in the event of an actual fire.

7. Install smoke detectors on each floor in your house, and check the batteries regularly.

8. Have fire extinguishers placed within your home, and make sure everyone in the house knows how to properly use one. Establish guidelines about when you should attempt to use a fire extinguisher or just exit the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Put a decal on your front window letting firemen know how many pets you have, in the event you are unable to take them with you or are not at home during a fire.
• Teach children how and when to dial 911.
• Consider having a fire blanket stored in a few rooms around the house. These are specially designed for putting out small fires or for covering yourself as you escape from a fire.
• Sleep with the bedroom door closed at night, since this will slow the spread of a fire by several minutes.
• Make all exits in your home wheelchair accessible if someone in your home uses a wheelchair. Make other provisions for any other special needs someone in your house may have, including infants and the elderly.
• Update your floor plan any time you make significant changes to your house or yard.
• Exit the house before attempting to call 911.
• Do not use elevators during a fire. If you live in a building with an elevator, avoid using it and instead use a stairwell or fire escape.