How to Create a Fire Escape Plan
If there is a fire in your house, your ability to get out depends on the reliability of your fire alarm system and proper planning.
Below are tips from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) for developing a fire evacuation plan for your household. For easy planning, download NFPA’s escape plan here.
- Draw a floor plan of your home.
- Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.
- Mark two ways out of each room, including windows and doors.
- Mark the location of each smoke alarm.
- Check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.
- If your home has two floors, every family member (including children) must be able to escape from the
rooms. Escape ladders can be placed in or near windows to provide an additional escape route. Store the ladder near the window, in an easily accessible location. You don’t want to have to search for it during a fire.second floor
- Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they’ve escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.
- Make sure your street number is clearly visible from the road. If not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.
- If there are infants, older adults, or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency.
- If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have emergency release devices inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency.
- Practice your home fire escape plan twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible.
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code® requires interconnected smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Call EMC Security to add fire detection devices in your home today.
Download Escape Plan Template Here
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