A residential fire can become life-threatening in less than two minutes, making every second valuable. Escaping a fire quickly and safely should always be the main priority. Creating a household fire escape plan is simple, and practicing it regularly can mean the difference between life and death.
Fire Escape Safety Tips
- Before a Fire
Residential fires, like other disaster types, require an ample amount of planning and preparation. As you develop an escape plan with your loved ones at home, always remember to:
- Regularly practice escaping from every room of the home during both the day and night.
- Identify two ways out of every room. If one passageway is blocked, having an established second option will help save valuable time.
- Teach every household member how to quickly remove any security bars from windows and doors.
- Designate a meeting place away from the home, such as a front-yard tree or on the sidewalk.
- Make sure everyone knows when and how to call emergency telephone numbers.
- Inform house guests about fire escape plans.
- During a Fire
When it comes to escaping a residential fire, every second counts. When a fire occurs at home, remember to:
- Help individuals with limited mobility evacuate the property.
- Close doors to keep the fire from spreading.
- Stay inside a room and immediately call the fire department if smoke, heat or flames block both established escape routes. Open the room’s window and use a bright-colored object or flashlight to signal the location.
- Home fires progress quickly, so do not spend time trying to save personal property.