Escape Planning - Create a Home Escape Plan

Escape Planning - Create a home escape plan and practice it with all family members!

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advanced warning from smoke alarms and advanced planning.

In 2014, there were an estimated 367,500 reported home structure fires and 2,745 associated civilian deaths in the United States.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.

• Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan.
• Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes.
• Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.

For easy planning:

• Draw a map of your home. Show all doors and windows
• Visit each room. Find two ways out.
• All windows and doors should open easily. You should be able to use them to get outside. 
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms. Push the test button monthly to make sure each alarm is working.
• Pick a meeting place outside. It should be in front of your home.
• Everyone will meet at the meeting place.
• Make sure your house or building number can be seen from the street.
• Talk about your plan with everyone in your home.
• Teach everyone to dial 9-1-1.
• Practice your home fire escape drill!