Do you know how to get out of your house if there’s a fire? Learn how to get your family prepared for a fire when every second counts.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Even the smallest spark can turn into a blazing fire in 30 seconds. Would you be able to get your family safely out of the house in that short amount of time?
The answer is probably no unless you have a fire escape plan. Placing smoke alarms on every level of the house is the first step toward prevention, but when fire breaks out the most important thing is getting out!
No matter how old your kids are, have everyone involved in a family escape plan. Use a floor plan to draw the path to safe exits and make sure everyone knows where to meet outside the house.
Teach everyone in the house basic rules:
– Touch doors before opening.
– Get as low to the ground as possible when smoke is present.
– Cover mouth with wet cloth if needed.
Once the plan is in place, make sure it can be executed by checking that windows and doors open easily. Remember that small hands can’t always manipulate key locks, so send kids out doors & windows that can be easily unlocked without help from an adult.
First start with a planned drill. Have everyone start in their beds, and when the drill goes off, follow your plan. This is the only way to know if the plan will work. Keep a stopwatch handy and try to get everyone out within 30 seconds.
Once you’ve mastered the plan through practice drills, then you can move to a surprise drill. This will really test the plan with the family.
And remember, stopping to grab the scrapbooks or a favorite sweater or Aunt Ida’s prized painting of Elvis can cost you seconds that are literally the difference between life and death.