How do you organize a fire escape plan? Organizing a fire escape plan takes little time, and it can save you and your family's life. Everyone in your household should be prepared with an escape plan in the...
Everyone in your household should be prepared with an escape plan in the event that a fire breaks out. Making a plan and practicing what each person should do in various situations will improve the chances of everyone getting out safely in a true emergency. It is critical that everyone knows, understands, and agrees to follow the plan each and every time you have a drill or in the event of an real fire threat. Unless the fire is very small and can be put out quickly with a fire extinguisher, it is best to leave fire fighting to the trained professionals who have the proper equipment to use.
Kidde is the world's largest manufacturer of fire safety products for residential and commercial use and has been in business since 1920. Heather Caldwell has been with Kidde for three years and is their communications manager. Caldwell states, "The basic fire safety plan agenda is to make sure that you know how to get out of any room." Fires are most likely to start in a kitchen or bedroom, but may flare up anyplace in a home. Each room must have an escape route in your plan and preferably two escape routes in case the fire blocks one exit.
Caldwell adds, "You want to practice a fire escape plan at night. The reason for this is because nearly half of all fatal fires occur when families are sleeping between the hours of around 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. So, it is very important to know what the house is going to look like when it is dark." Initially you may want to run some drills in the daylight hours so everyone can see and understand the plan and ask questions on the parts they don't understand. The night drills are a true test of whether everyone understands the procedures and can follow them quickly and accurately.
By installing smoke detectors that will sound an alarm when smoke reaches them, your family should be aware of a fire in the home fairly quickly and still have time to escape safely. Test your alarm monthly and change the batteries at least twice per year. It is advisable to replace a smoke alarm that is over ten years old to give the most protection to your family and home. Smoke may be just as threatening as the actual flames, so it is imperative that everyone escape the dwelling as quickly as possible. Never go back into a burning building once you have escaped. If someone is still inside, alert a firefighter of the person's estimated location and let a professional search for the person. This goes for pets as well. Smoke will obstruct vision and may cause dizziness or disorientation so it is important to stay calm and move quickly with the escape plan.
Ideally, bedroom doors should be closed while your family is sleeping. On average it takes at least ten minutes to completely burn through a wooden door. That extra time could allow someone to hear a warning alarm and have a better chance to escape. Each room should have at least two exit routes outlined in the escape plan. One most likely will be a doorway and another may be a window or additional door. Rope ladders can be used if the window is not on the ground floor. Some high-rise apartments have fire ladders built on to the side of the building for an alternate escape route to residents. Never try to use an elevator to escape any fire.
You should have each family member practice all possible exits from the home. Everyone should be able to climb out windows, down ladders, and crawl on their hands and knees to the nearest doorway. Your local fire station may even have a handout or brochure to offer you some tips for making an escape plan for your home. Regular drills will help keep everyone well prepared for an unexpected emergency. If there are young children or other family members who require additional assistance and may not be able to escape on their own, build into the plan a way someone can help them. Young children may have a tendency to crawl under a bed or in a closet if they become frightened and feel alone. Encourage them to run outside and not to hide. If you show them the proper escape routes and techniques and then have them demonstrate them for you, it may put the child at ease. If the child feels confident in his or her abilities to get out safely it will make them less likely to panic in an emergency and more likely to remain calm in their escape procedures.
You should also practice what to do in case you are trapped and cannot escape a room. If possible, try to close the door between you and the fire to prevent smoke from entering the room you are in. This will allow firefighters additional time to locate where you are and improve your chances of surviving the blaze. Also try to fill cracks or vents with anything you have available to keep the smoke from coming in. If you have a phone or cell phone available, try calling 911 to alert rescue teams where you are and that you need help quickly. Standing by a window and sending a signal to others that you need help is also a good idea. You may be able to use a flashlight or whistle to draw attention to yourself. You may even try to raise the window and yell or wave a towel to alert others that you are trapped. Never open a door that feels hot to the touch or that you think a fire is behind. If you do open a door and see flames, shut the door tightly as quickly as possible. Stay low to the ground to avoid smoke, which will rise in the air. If you have a cloth to cover your face when the smoke becomes thicker this may help filter the air you are forced to breathe. Always try to position yourself near a window or door if at all possible to assist rescue workers in locating you quickly. Do not stand in the middle of the room if at all possible. Answer the calls of a rescue worker if you hear them, but don't just yell out in panic as you will exhaust yourself more quickly and use more oxygen.
Once each member is able to get out of the home it is important to have an established meeting place so that everyone can then be accounted for. If family members become scattered it may create unnecessary panic or confusion. Never go back into a burning home even if you think someone may still be inside. Make sure the meeting spot is stationary and a safe distance away from the home, such as a neighbor's driveway, a tree at the end of your property, or by your mailbox. Someone should call 911 as soon as possible from a neighbor's house or a cell phone if the fire has not already been reported. If anyone is not in the family group and may have been trapped inside, let rescue dispatchers have as much information as possible on the situation so they can offer assistance quickly.
If you live in a multi-family dwelling you may want to get together with other residents to form joint escape procedures that will benefit everyone. Most apartment complexes or high-rise buildings have plans in place for disasters such as fires, tornados, or floods. These plans are not always specific for each living unit, however, so you will want to develop, plan, and practice your own exit plan for your specific family.
Getting out of a burning structure is important, but you must also take care to escape safely. Never jump from higher floors unless absolutely necessary. If rescue teams have apparatus in place to break your fall and advise you to jump, follow their instructions carefully. The recommended way to let yourself down from a second-story window is to hang out of the window by holding on with your hands and then dropping feet first to the ground. This will reduce injury potential. You may still get hurt, but at least you have a greater chance of surviving the ordeal.
