We have all experienced fire drills at school, but what about at home? Would you know what to do?
Having a fire drill and a fire evacuation plan at home provides the peace of mind your family needs to know what to do in an actual emergency. We all want our families to be safe and to get out quickly in an emergency and a good fire evacuation plan and drill will help you feel less worried because your family will be prepared.
We all live in different sized buildings, such as one-or-two story houses or small or tall apartment complexes. Wherever you are living, you need to know you can get out safely.
There are several things to consider when creating your fire evacuation plan. How many rooms are there in your home and how many exits out of each room? How many exits are there out of your house or apartment and where are they located? You will want to write down the best ways to get to stairways and other emergency exits and have alternative routes established in case those exits are blocked. After exiting your house or apartment you will need to have one place that everyone has decided to meet such as the front yard or a neighbor’s yard.
Other things to consider are making sure someone in your family is assigned to call 911. If emergency services arrive as soon as possible, there is a better chance of saving your home and staying safe.
To get started creating your own fire evacuation plan, use a blank piece of paper and draw a map of your house using the instructions in the attached entitled “How to Make a Home Fire Escape Plan” and include the items listed.
Finally, remember to practice your fire evacuation plan AND change the batteries in your smoke detectors twice a year!
More information on home fire escape plans is located at https://nfpa.org/factsheets as well as Before the Fire
Photo credit: NFPA
Article by Barbara Carrillo, Communications Consultant, Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition