Planning Ahead for a Fire in the Home
If a fire breaks out in your home, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire. Here's a few things that will help you in planning for such an emergency:
* Draw a home escape plan and discuss it with everyone in your home.
* Practice the plan at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
* Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
* Have an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
* Practice using different ways out.
* Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can't help them.
* Close doors behind you as you leave.
* If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets.
* If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
* Feel the knob and door before opening a door.
* Call the fire department from outside your home.