Fire Escape Plan & Know Your Exits Out...

Leaving our home, the work place, a grocery store, theater, or even an airplane once it arrives at the airport terminal is a very simple task to do, you go through the exit. But, what if it’s blocked? What if you can’t go through the normal entrance to exit? In an emergency situation you might have to go through a second exit that’s not blocked. Sounds simple but in an emergency situation, and it has happen, the situation might balloon out of control where everyone gets caught up in the excitement of the emergency situation.

When you’re away from home always look and keep in mind of a second path of travel. Remember a proper plan of escape becomes essential. Preplanning maximizes a safe escape and is part of everyone’s daily fire prevention duties.

A proper plan of escape becomes very important in the home. It only takes 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a big blaze and your house can fill up with smoke in just minutes. That's why firefighters want every family to have an escape plan and practice it so everyone gets out alive.

You must have a plan to get out if your house ever catches on fire. You don’t have time to plan a fire escape plan when you need one. On a piece of paper draw a floor plan of your home. Draw two ways out of each room especially sleeping areas. You can use doorways and windows. Meet with everyone that lives in your home and discuss this floor plan and make sure everyone understands it. Plan a place to meet outside so everyone can wait on the fire department. Practice your plan. Make it realistic.

Pretend that some exits are blocked or use blindfolds to pretend the lights are out. Be sure everyone in the house can unlock all doors and windows that may be used to get out. Sleep with your doors closed to keep the heat and smoke out of your room longer to allow additional time to escape. Practice your drills at least twice a year. Remember that this is not a race, but ensure that everyone can escape quickly and safely.

If there is a fire:

Test the doors before you try to open them they may be hot. Use the back of your hand to test the door. If you appear to be trapped in a room stuff clothes or any thing you can find to try to stop the smoke from entering the room you are in until the fire department can get you out. If there is a fire do not stop for anything just get out and meet at your meeting place outside. Always crawl when leaving a smoke filled house.

Once you leave your home NEVER return to the home.

Here’s a one of my very first online videos I made entitled “Proper Escape Plan Becomes Essential” that I recorded for Fire Prevention Week 2009...

All the aspects I go over on a proper escape plan are all simple and easy to follow. Knowing two exits out is always important. Make it part of your daily routine to where it’ll be second nature if & when you will need to egress/exit a home of facility.

Creating an proper escape plan and having a meeting place speeds up the process for firefighters to move in and save your home. Again, everyone should know at least two ways to get out of every room. Knowing that second exit out will get you & family members out safely and keep everyone alive in an emergency situation.

For more information about having a proper fire escape plan visit: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) BASIC FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING or the United States Fire Administration (USFA) Escape Planning web pages.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)