In the event of a fire, having a practiced safety escape plan can save lives. Make sure everyone knows when to call 911, how to get out, where to go, and who to contact in the event of an emergency.
Remind others to practice staying low to the floor and checking for hot doors using the back of the hand. It’s just like a routine school fire drill but in the home.
Don’t forget to practice the safety plan with the family in every room in the house:
Your first step should be to make a map of the house. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but an accurate layout is necessary.
Next, you’ll want to find the quickest possible escape route through any given room in your home. In the second story? Make sure a fire escape ladder is located near every window in case the stairs collapse.
Once you have outlined the fastest escape routes, diagram them on your map and distribute the map to each member of your family. Practice the routes, make sure everyone knows how to crawl under smoke, check hot doors with the back of their hands, and use a fire escape ladder.
Now that your escape is planned, list emergency numbers to call and create designated meeting spots for your family to rendezvous in the event of an emergency.