Evacuation Plan

You home evacuation plan is called the “GREAT ESCAPE”.  Does your family or home have an evacuation plan? If so do you review your plan or practice your fire drill monthly?  You can survive a fire in your home if you know what to do when you hear the smoke alarm.  To help plan your “”GREAT ESCAPE” here are some tips to follow.

PLAN YOUR ESCAPE

Draw a floor plan of your home or print the GREAT ESCAPE plan from this page showing two ways out.

MEETING PLACE

Your plan should have your meeting place marked. Your family should all agree on where the meeting place is.  Remember you can use anything for a meeting place. Some examples are the mailbox, the end of the driveway, or the neighbor’s house.  Whatever your family decides is your choice. Some places to avoid would be dark places or the neighbor who may be two houses away. The key to a meeting place is somewhere close to your home so everyone can be accounted for quickly!

WINDOWS

Most homes have windows that can be used to escape, but remember if the window you wish to use is on a second floor it may be a long way down.  These windows should be avoided due to there being no way to get down unless you have an escape ladder available.  The windows you wish to use should be able to be unlocked and opened easily. Does your window have security bars attached?  If so they need to be equipped with quick inside release latches.  Can your children reach all release latches if that window is to be used?  If not, choose an alternate escape route.

 STAY PUT!

In some instances you may find that your escape route may be blocked or you cannot use a window due to height from the ground.  If this is the case remember STAY PUT!  Small children or a member of your family may need assistance or they are just plain SCARED!  Fire is a scary thing, even after practicing.  Here are some tips to help some one who needs assistance or small children:

• Keep all doors closed. This will slow the spread of the fire and smoke
• Encourage small children not to hide but go to the window and make themselves visible
• If electricity is still on, turn a light on signaling to the fire department some one is in that room!
• Put clothes under door gaps to slow the speed of smoke into that room.
• Keep yourself-low to the floor, remember smoke and heat rises!

Staying put is the last resort.  If you or any member of your family uses it, be patient and stay put!  If you are not at the meeting place someone knows what location you are at so we can get you out!

PRATICE! PRATICE! PRATICE!

Simple but effective.  Practice your escape once your family has developed one.  You should also practice your plan monthly and remember your meeting place.  If you find that your plan has to be altered all agree on what needs altering and re-draw your plan.

BASIC ESCAPE TIPS

Once your plan is established and practiced, use these tips to be more prepared

• Crawl on the floor, stay low, smoke and heat rise.  If you stay low you will be able to see and breathe easier.
• Check all doors and doorknobs. Use the back of your hand to check to see if it is hot. DO NOT GRASP with your hand.  If you grasp the door or handle you can get severely burned.  If the door or handle is hot or warm you will need to use your alternate route.
• NEVER try and get your favorite pet out. Yes, they are part of the family, BUT YOU COME FIRST!

ONCE OUT STAY OUT!

Once you escape NEVER go back inside for any reason!