Make an Escape Plan
Prepare for a fire emergency by sitting down with your family and agreeing on an escape plan. A well prepared escape plan helps to avoid panic and may save your lives.
- Review and determine at least two unobstructed exits from every room in your house. Doors should be your primary exit and windows your next choice.
- Have each person practice opening doors and windows. Show children how to open door and window locks.
- Decide on a meeting place outside where everyone will meet, such as a neighbor's porch, tree or lamppost.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice your fire drill and escape routes.
- Have everyone lie in bed and wait for the drill.
- Begin the drill by pressing the smoke detector test button. For more realism, continue to sound the alarm until everyone is outside.
- Practice yelling "Fire!" to help alert others in the home.
- Roll out of bed and stay low to the floor.
- Each person should crawl to your primary exit of that room. If it is blocked by smoke or fire, use your other designated exit.
- Feel any closed door with the back of your hand before opening it. If it is hot, do not open it, use your other exit.
- Make sure everyone goes to the meeting place.
- Assign someone at the meeting place to be the one to go to a neighbor's home to call 911.
- Never go back into a burning building! Get out, Stay out, and Stay alive!
Post Emergency Numbers Near Telephones: Dial "911"
Be aware that if a fire threatens your home, you should not place the call to emergency services from inside the home. It is better to get out and place the call to fire authorities from a safe location outside the home.