Fire Prevention Week – Emergency Escape Plan
October 6 -12 is the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week. This week is a good time to test, clean and change the batteries on your smoke detectors and practice your family’s Emergency Escape Plan. If you don’t have an Emergency Escape Plan, now is a good time to put one in place.
What is an Emergency Escape Plan?
An emergency escape plan includes the process for getting all of your family members out of the home safely in the event of an emergency. It should be prepared in advance, with all family members participating. Then practice it at least twice a year. The whole family, even children, should know how to tell when there is an emergency and what they should do at that time.
What does Everyone Need to Know?
- Identify two escape routes from every room. Ideally, have a floor plan of the house and mark the escape routes on there.
- Plan where to meet up once you get out of the house. This should be close enough that even little ones can get to it but still outside the range of the fire. Across the street in a neighbor’s yard is a great option.
- Know how to call the fire department. Typically, this is through 911 and can be easily taught to children. If you live in a small town or outside the city limits, confirm the fastest way to get a dispatch and teach everyone that number.
- What sound does the smoke detector make? This is especially important if you also have a siren for your burglar alarm. The reaction is very different between these two and it is important to recognize each sound.
- Prepare everyone for the fact that they might have to move through smoke or even fire. Practice keeping low and covering your mouth.
- Most importantly, never go back into a burning house once you are out.
What else do we Need?
- Smoke detectors need to be in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping room and should be on each floor of a multi-level house. Make sure that each smoke detector triggers all the others to go off so the whole house is alerted.
- Have the smoke detectors added to your alarm system so that the fire department will immediately be dispatched if they go off.
- Ensure your system works when you need it. Clean the smoke detectors and change their batteries every six months and test the system monthly.
- For multi-story homes, have a fire ladder accessible on the upper floors so family members can get down that way if needed. Make sure children know they are never to use these unless there is an emergency.
- Check your home to be sure that all doors and windows have a clear path to them. In the event of a fire, seconds count. You don’t want to me moving a table or dresser to get to the closest window.
- Keep doors closed and in the event of a fire, close doors behind you to put a barrier between you and the fire and smoke.
We Can Help you Prepare
Cultris Security Systems has been helping families and businesses with their fire and security needs for over 13 years. We can help you get your smoke alarm system installed or monitored. Call us today at 281-506-8466 or visit us online.
