Beyond having smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home, it’s also essential to have an escape plan in case of an emergency. Everyone in your household should help make the plan and practice it regularly.
The NFPA has more resources to help you create a home escape plan
Plan:
- Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits. Be sure all escape routes and hallways are clear of clutter and storage.
- Keep a fire extinguisher near an exit so you can quickly escape if the fire grows.
- Consider drawing a floor plan of your home and mapping two ways out for each sleeping area. If you live in an apartment building with three or more units, review its fire safety plan.
- Sleep with bedroom doors closed to slow the spread of fire.
- Teach everyone in your home how to unlock and open windows, doors and all security devices.
- Remind everyone to close doors behind them as they exit.
- Designate family members responsible for waking children and older adults.
- Agree on a meeting place outside your home.
- Stress the importance of calling 911 once in a safe location.
Practice:
- Make household drills realistic! Since most fires happen overnight, start drills in sleeping areas and darken your home as if it is smoke-filled.
- Begin the drill with the sound of the smoke alarm.
- Practice escaping through smoke by crawling low on hands and knees.
- Practice how to use your fire extinguisher with P.A.S.S.
- Pull the pin, holding the extinguisher upright
- Aim at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the handle
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side
- Follow your escape plan from the beginning all the way through to a your assigned meeting place outside your home.
- Once outside, do not go back inside — wait for firefighters to rescue anyone trapped inside.