4. Surviving a Fire in your Home

   1. The Home Fire Escape Plan

   2. Escaping the Smoke and Flames

1. The Home Fire Escape Plan:

Fire is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the home, but by being prepared to handle this emergency, you can help your family to exit safely your home in the event of a fire. Fire safety and survival begins with everyone in your household being prepared.

Most people killed in fires try to escape through the main exits, often blocked by smoke and fire.  Smoke will quickly obscure vision.  Children often hide in closets or under the bed.  Many burns and deaths occur when a family member runs back into the fire to “save” a member who unknowingly has already escaped.  Practicing escape routes and meeting places will dramatically improve your chances of safely escaping.

Safety Tips

• Early warning is a key element of your fire escape plan. Working smoke alarms are needed on each story and every place that people sleep.
• Sketch out a floor plan of your home, including all rooms, windows, interior and exterior doors, stairways, fire escapes and smoke alarms. make sure that every family member is familiar with the layout.
• Identify and remedy anything in your home that could possibly interfere with your ability to get out quickly in an emergency, such as windows that are struck or heavy furniture blocking an exit.
• You need a primary and secondary exit. If you have a multi-level home, consider if you need to purchase fire escape ladders for the upstairs' bedrooms. If so, they should be part of your fire drill, deployed safely from a ground-floor window for practice.
• Select two escape routes from each room and mark them clearly on the plan.
• Ensure that family members with special needs, such as someone who is ill or frail or small children, have a buddy to help them get out safely.
• Designate a place to meet outside so that everyone can be accounted and someone can be assigned to go to the neighbor's to call 911.
• Make copies of the escape plan sketches and post them in each room until everyone becomes familiar with them.
• Practice makes perfect. Hold family fire drills frequently and at various times until the escape plan becomes second nature.
• Young children are especially susceptible to heavy sleeping and may not awaken.
• Meet at a designated place a safe distance from the home.
• Smoke can quickly obscure vision.