How to Conduct a Home Fire Drill

What is your family's risk of a fire? How well prepared is your family in the event of a fire? Did you know a home fire occurs every 83 seconds in the United States, and more fire deaths and injuries occur in the home than anywhere else? Will you and your family know what to do and be able to do it in a matter of minutes or even seconds? Please read the following tips to help keep your family safe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Escape Plan

1. 
    
   Smoke Alarm

   Ensure you have working smoke alarms. Make it a habit to change the batteries once a year. Pick a time of the year that would be easy for you to remember. Some suggest when you change your clocks back in the fall or forward in the spring, or perhaps on New Years Day.

2. 
    
   Secondary Exit

   Plan a home fire escape route. The primary exit to your home should be the safest and fastest way out of your home. However, you should have a secondary exit in the event your primary exit is blocked by smoke or fire. A secondary exit may be a window or another door leading to the outside.

3. If a fire strikes, check doors for heat with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, don't enter. If the door is cool open it slowly.

4. 
    
   Down on all Fours

   Smoke tends to rise, so get down on all fours and crawl to get to an exit.

5. If you have second floor rooms, consider purchasing an escape ladder and practice using it.

6. Once you leave the house, do not re-enter.

7. Choose a meeting place outside the home and make sure everyone from inside the house arrives safely.

8. 
    
   911

   Call 911 from a neighbor's house.

9. Practice your home fire drills at least twice a year. Once during the day and once at night. Make sure every member of your family knows what to do and where to go. Make adjustments if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Maintain an orderly home. Keep toys and shoes from cluttering your floors. Keep obstacles from in front of windows and doors. Make it as easy as possible to exit your home. Remember, you may not be able to see your escape route, due to smoke or absence of light. This How to Conduct a Home Fire Drill can save your family's life.

[edwardvance]

on 11/2/2009 Great article on conducting a home fire drill. A must read. 5*

[gahazeleyes]

on 10/15/2009 Very good information that is well needed for all families. Thanks!

[missforty]

on 10/14/2009 GReat advice for planning ahead.

[mvalora]

on 10/6/2009 Very useful information on how to conduct a home fire drill. 5*

[ourlastchance]

on 10/6/2009 Great article on an important topic. There are more home fires in the winter months than any other season with heaters being turned back on after long periods of them being off. Great article on conducting a home fire drill. 5* and recommend!