Keep Your Family Safe With a Fire Escape Plan
One of the best ways to ensure your family stays safe is to focus on fire prevention and awareness. Knowledge is power, and fire safety is no exception. The more you and your family know about preventing fires, the necessary fire equipment to keep your home safe, and your personalized fire escape plan, the more likely you will stay safe if the unthinkable happens. Follow the steps outlined below to create a fire escape plan for your family, and then rest easy knowing you’ve done all you can to keep your loved ones and your home safe.
Create a Fire Escape Plan in 10 Easy Steps
| 1. Begin your fire escape plan by drawing a simple and easy-to-read map of your home that shows all rooms, windows, and doors. |
| 2. Walk through each room of your home and locate two exit options per room (typically a door and a window). |
| 3. Test all windows and doors to ensure they are easily accessible and functioning properly. Teach children how to open and close the window locks in case they are alone and trapped inside a room with no other escape option. |
| 4. Test all smoke detectors in your home by pushing the “test” button. You should have a smoke alarm installed directly outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home. Larger homes may require additional alarms. |
| 5. Choose one spot in the front of your home to meet in case of a fire. Make sure everyone knows where the designated meeting place is, so all family members can be quickly accounted for if a fire breaks out. |
| 6. Stand near the street and look at your home. Can you easily spot your house or building number? This is something you may not think about because you know your address and home location, but having the number of your street address easily visible to emergency responders makes a difference in their timely response. |
| 7. Talk about your fire escape plan with every member of your family. Answer questions, and don’t be afraid to discuss the “what-ifs.” Thinking and planning through various emergency scenarios will build confidence. |
| 8. Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 and help them memorize their home address. |
| 9. Place fire extinguishers on every level of your home in easily accessible locations. Every member of the family should know how to operate the fire extinguisher if needed. |
| 10. Practice, practice, practice! The entire purpose of creating a fire escape plan is to be prepared in an emergency. Every family member needs to know exactly what to do if a fire breaks out in their home. Create a few scenarios and walk from room to room, discussing escape routes, and backup plans. |
Basic Fire & Home Safety Tips To Remember
- A closed door slows the spread of fire, heat, and smoke.
- Test smoke alarms monthly. According to the NFPA, dead batteries cause over 25% of smoke alarm failures. Bonus tip: Change the batteries whenever you move your clocks forward or back.
- Fire sprinkler systems are standard in commercial buildings, but did you know that sprinkler systems can be installed in your home as an added safety feature? When a home fire sprinkler system is in use, the fire stays confined to a single room in the home 97% of the time!
- Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home. Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and test them monthly.
- Think “PASS” when operating a fire extinguisher. Pull the pin. Aim low. Squeeze the handle. Sweep from side to side.
Contact Us For Additional Fire Safety Plan Information
Safe-T Fire Protection has served the Metro Atlanta area for over 35 years. With a passion for the well-being of our local communities, we are dedicated to fire safety education and training. Contact our team if you have questions about creating a fire safety plan for your family!
