Plan and Practice to Escape

Smoke detectors are the first line of defense in a fire.  They are designed to alert you of a fire allowing you time to safely escape.  Install them on each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area.  Test them every week and follow the manufacturer's direction.  Everyone in your home should recognize the sound of a smoke detector and have a plan to escape.

STEP 1:  Know Two Ways Out 

Identify at least two ways out of every room in your home, especially the bedrooms.  Familiarize all family members with the escape routes in your home.  Walk through each room and point out the escape routes.  Practice opening the doors and windows to ensure everyone can open them quickly.

If your home has an upper level, consider buying a non-combustible fire escape ladder or make sure that you have another safe way to get down.  A suggestion may be to just open the window and wave a makeshift flag while yelling for help.  The fire department should only be a few minutes away and can get you down with their ladder.  This prevents unnecessary jumping that could lead to potential injury to members of the household.

Locate the bedrooms of small children or people with mobility disabilities on the ground level.  Make special arrangements for getting them out of the house in case of a fire.

Make sure everyone understands that they should get out immediately in case of a fire.  The fire department should be called from a neighbor's phone.

STEP 2:  Agree on a Meeting Place Outside

Select an easy to identify landmark outside the home that all family members will meet at once they are out of the house.  An ideal location would be the streetside mailbox or tree.  This allows for everyone to be in front of the home.  Once in the meeting location,  wait there until the fire department arrives.  Once you are out, stay out, no matter what!  If someone is trapped in the fire, report their location and leave rescuing to the firefighters who are trained and equipped to enter burning buildings.

STEP 3:  Prepare for the Unexpected

In a real fire, flames and smoke may block your escape.  Both heat and smoke are deadly.  Each door should be tested before opening.  Kneel or crouch at the door, reach as high as you can, and put the back of your hand against the door, the door knob, and check the crack between the door and the door frame.  If the door is hot, don't open it, use the second way out instead.  Even if the door is cool, open it slowly and be prepared to slam it shut if heat and smoke come in.

STEP 4:  Practice your Escape

Every time you and your family have a fire drill, you increase the likelihood that you will react correctly in a real fire.  Practice your escape routes at least once every six months.  Appoint someone to be the monitor of the fire drill.  The monitor should sound the alarm and ensure that everyone participates.

More than half of all fatal home fires occur when people are sleeping.  It is recommended that each person practice the drill by going to their bedroom, closing the door, and waiting for the monitor to sound the alarm.  The exit drill should be as realistic as possible and each member should practice the two escape routes out of their area.

Pretend that certain exits are blocked by fire, that there are no lights, and that the hallways are filled with smoke.  Crawl low and go!

Crawl low under smoke.  "Crawl Low and Go."  Smoke contains deadly gases.  If you encounter smoke, use another way out if at all possible.  If your only way out is through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest exit.  Hot smoke rises and the cleaner air will be several inches off the floor.

Stop, Drop, and Roll.  If your clothes catch on fire, do not run.  Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll over to smother the flames.