How to Hold a Fire Drill with your Family

Member

By sugaredup
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

Hold a Fire Drill with your Family

Creating a plan and conducting a family fire drill is essential to the safety of everyone in the household. Here are several steps to follow to make sure you have a plan everyone understands and a plan than can be easily executed in the event of a house fire.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Create an escape plan by sketching a map of your home. Be sure to include all rooms, doors, windows, and stairways. Also note fire escapes and the location of smoke alarms throughout your home.
Step 2

Find two ways out of every room. Doors and possibly a window. If the room is located on the second floor, an escape ladder should be purchased. Go through each room in your home and review the escapes with every family member. Mark the escape route from each room on your plan.
Step 3

Be sure that windows and doors open easily and can be unlocked from inside without using a key. Review how to unlock all doors and windows with all family members. If using a security bar, be sure it has a quick release so it can be removed easily in any emergency.
Step 4

Decide on a meeting place outside of the home. The best place to meet is out front. We have chosen our next door neighbor's driveway as our meeting place. If using a neighbor's property as part of your fire plan, please remember to ask the neighbor if this is acceptable to them. Remind all family members that once they are outisde DO NOT go back inside for any reason.
Step 5

Use a portable phone or a neighbor's phone to call for help. Teach children how to use the phone and how to dial 911.
Step 6

Hold fire drills frequently. Once everyone in the household has mastered the escape plan, hold a fire drill at night. The house looks different at night than it does during the day. It's also a great idea to run a drill in the middle of the night to learn the ability of loved ones to awaken and respond to the alarm. Fires can happen at any time, so be prepared for all situations.
Step 7

Remember to install smoke alarms throughout the house. Test the smoke alarms monthly so be sure they are operating properly.