Home Fire Escape

​Home Fire Escape
Plan * Practice * RePEAT

You will learn the importance of a home escape plan and create one to safely evacuate yourself and your family members in the event of a fire.

OBJECTIVE

Poll

Do you and your family currently have a home fire escape plan?

• Yes! Our family is prepared!

• No. Our family doesn't have one yet.

Only 1 out of every 3 households in America have a home fire escape plan. Less than half of those households have practiced that plan! Fire spreads quickly. You have as little as TWO MINUTES to evacuate safely! Are you and your family ready?

DID YOU KNOW?

BUT FIRST!

Before we plan our escape route, we need to take care of a few things that will help us evacuate quickly and safely. Let's learn how to prepare our home and our family for an emergency event. Preparation is the best plan!

Smoke detectors are the most effective early warning devices you can have in your home. Once the alarm goes off, you may have as little as TWO MINUTES to escape. First, make sure your home's detectors are interconnected - meaning that if one alarm goes off they all will! If a fire were to start on one side of the house, the nearest smoke detector will activate the rest and alert the household. Unconnected smoke detectors will delay alerting household members in the event of an emergency.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Not only should your alarms be interconnected, they also need to be placed strategically around your home. Alarms should be installed inside every bedroom, outside every bedroom door, and on every level of the house. No matter where a fire starts, the alarms will go off all over the house and give your family members a better opportunity to evacuate as soon as possible.

Don't forget - your goal is to be safely out of the house in under TWO MINUTES.

ONE FOR EVERY BEDROOM DOOR

Draw

Take a look at the blueprint. Draw a red X everywhere you think a smoke detector should go!

Here's a few tips to make sure that your detectors are working properly and ready to raise the alarm:

MAINTAINING YOUR SMOKE ALARMS

• Test your smoke alarms once a month.

• Install new batteries at least once a year.

• Never reuse a smoke alarm battery.

• Without removing its cover, regularly clean your alarms using a vacuum cleaner.

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

• Even if your alarm is wired into your home's electrical system, replace their backup batteries.
  
  

ADDRESS YOUR ADDRESS

Here's something most families don't think about: Make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the road. This helps first responders find the correct address quickly and easily. The best way to do this is to paint your house number on the street curb.

SECURITY WINDOWS & DOORS

Some homes have bars on the windows to prevent intruders from getting in. These secure windows are wonderful for keeping unwanted guests out, but can prevent you from escaping safely in the event of a fire. Ask your parents to purchase Emergency Release devices for your home's window bars. It would be a good idea to teach every member of your household how to use the device in the event of an emergency. These devices won't compromise your home security, but they will increase your chances of escaping safely!

OUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS

We can't forget about our pets! They're family, too. It's important to have an evacuation plan for them in case of a fire. There are several things you can do to help your pets evacuate with your family.

First, make sure that your pets are wearing collars with current tags and contact information. GPS collars are a great idea if your pet has a habit of escaping in stressful situations.

Make an evacuation kit for your pet(s) and place it near the front door. You can fill a pet carrier with food, water, leashes, litter, first aid supplies, and anything else you think they might need.

PET EVACUATION TIPS

The National Fire Protection Association also recommends families include a flash drive with pet photos, ownership documents, microchip information, vaccination records, emergency phone numbers, and any dietary or medical needs. Give a copy of the flash drive to a friend or family member in case you are unable to evacuate with their emergency kit. If you and your pet are separated, this will increase your chances of being reunited with your furry family member.

PET EVACUATION TIPS

JUST IN CASE

Fires can often start when no one is home. Make or buy a special sticker for your front door. Firefighters and other first responders will see it and know there are pets in the home. They will search for your pets and carry them out to safety.

If you are home and able to take them with you, quickly write "evacuated" so first responders don't waste precious time searching for them.

Draw

Design a special sticker to alert emergency responders about your family pets!

EVACUATING WITH PETS

Designate an adult family member to be in charge of the pets so that the rest can focus on evacuating. It's important to know your pet's hiding spots - they will be just as scared as you!

If you are unable to evacuate with your pets, try and leave a door or first floor window open. Call your pet from outside. DO NOT GO BACK IN. As difficult as it may be, you cannot help your pet if you put yourself in danger. First responders will do everything possible to rescue your furry family member. GET OUT AND STAY OUT.

TIME TO PLAN

Now that you've taken steps to prepare your home and pets for a fire, it's time to make a plan to get yourself and your family out. Remember - fire spreads quickly and you have as little as TWO MINUTES to get evacuate.

Meet with every member of your household and make a plan together.

EXIT ROUTES

As a family, walk through your home and inspect every possible escape route. Draw a map of each floor of your home. Mark TWO escape routes for each room of the house. Make sure that your escape routes are clear. There should be no obstacles that will slow down your safe evacuation.

Choose a meeting place a safe distance away from your home where everyone should go when they escape. Pick a spot that is permanent such as a light post, mailbox, or a neighbor's house across the street.

Draw

Make a map of your bedroom and plan your escape routes!

PLAN EVERY DETAIL

Some family members may be able to evacuate more easily than others. Babies and toddlers are unable to follow an evacuation plan. Someone who is injured, disabled, or has difficulty moving may also require help. If someone in your family has difficulty moving, make sure that someone is assigned to help them evacuate. Make sure to have a backup person in case the person you assign is not home. Both helpers should practice getting that family member out of the house and know exactly what to do.

PLAN EVERY DETAIL

Some homes have only one level which makes a quick evacuation easier. If your home has more than two floors, your family may have to evacuate from upstairs. Place escape ladders nearby. Practice setting it up quickly and correctly. Children can practice with adult supervision and only from the first floor.

Younger family members should also learn how to open doors and windows in case an adult isn't with them.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Practice your home fire escape at night and during the day at least twice a year. Assign someone to make sure everyone is awake in the event of a nighttime emergency.

Practice using different escape routes. Remember to always choose the one with the least amount of smoke and heat. Rehearse getting low and crawling under toxic smoke.

During your drill, practice closing doors on your way out. This will slow the spread of the fire.

Fires spread quickly! In some cases, you may be unable to exit. Everyone in your home should practice what to do in this kind of emergency situation.

• Take shelter in a room.

• Use duct tape or wet towels to seal the door cracks and cover air vents.

• If possible, open a window for fresh air.

• Call 9-1-1 and report your exact location.

• Wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth to alert responders of your location.

WHEN TO STAY PUT

These tips will also save you if you live in a high-rise apartment or if you're a guest at a hotel.

THINGS CAN BE REPLACED! YOU CANNOT!
As you are evacuating - do not stop to grab pictures, electronics, or anything else. The idea of losing everything is difficult, but your main priority is to get yourself and your family to safety! Talk to your parents about:

• Uploading important photos & documents to a cloud or flash drive.

• Putting valuable jewelry and documents in a bank safety deposit box.

• Investing in home insurance that will help you replace anything that's lost.

• Getting a fire resistant box to help protect valuables.

GET OUT & STAY OUT!

When you evacuate - go immediately to your meeting spot. No matter what - DO NOT GO BACK IN. If anyone in your family is missing - alert the emergency responders immediately. Do not go back in for any reason. You can be critically injured.

#1 RULE - GET OUT & STAY OUT!

PLAN
Prepare your home for an emergency.
Maintain your smoke alarms.
Make a pet evacuation kit.
Identify your exit routes.
Assign jobs to family members.
Establish a meeting place.
PRACTICE & REPEAT

Practice all your escape routes.
Make sure your exits are clear.
Teach children how to exit on their own.
Rehearse crawling under smoke.
Know when and how to stay put.
Hold home fire drills twice a year.
Set a goal of 2 minutes to evacuate.
REMEMBER
GET OUT AND STAY OUT!

Open Ended

What is the best or most valuable Fire Escape tip that you want to share with your family?