According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), burns and fires are the third leading cause of death in the home.
In the event of a fire, you have less than two minutes to escape safely.
However, most residential fires occur between midnight and 6 a.m., when you’re most likely sleeping.
The best – and easiest – way to make sure you and your family get out alive? Have a fire escape plan.
Design an escape plan with your entire family, and practice your escape plan with the entire household at least twice a year – once during the day, and once at night.
During these fire drills, make sure everyone can check off the following items:
- Know two unobstructed ways out of each room.
- Feel all doors for evidence of heat before opening them.
- Close doors behind you to help slow the spread of fire.
- Close room doors before opening windows.
- Remember to crawl low under smoke.
- If your escape route involves an upper-level window, be sure to plan a safe way of getting to the ground.
- Decide on a meeting place. Pick a place that is safely away from the home but not across a busy street. The entire household should agree on a spot (e.g., mailbox, tree, neighbor’s house) and know to meet there in the event of an emergency.
- Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
- Stop, drop and roll if your clothing catches on fire.
The most important part of your fire escape plan is to have a working smoke detector installed on every level of your home and in every bedroom.
Test detectors monthly and change batteries twice a year to make sure they are working properly.
And never ignore a fire alarm! In a fire, seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
For more fire safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association.
Published on: October 10, 2017
