Does Your Family Have a Fire Escape Plan?

Do you have a family escape plan in the event of a fire? It's certainly something that needs to be determined and practised so that if the worst was to happen, everyone would know what to do. But what are some of the things that need to be considered when formulating your family escape plan?

Escape Route

The quickest way to escape your home might be the most usual one. Even in a fire, it might be quickest and easiest to exit the room and proceed out the front door. This is not always possible, which is why an alternative method of escape needs to be determined. This might involve exiting through a window located at a convenient height. If your bedrooms are located on a second floor, then a rooftop escape also needs to be worked out. Adults and older children can generally make their own way to ground level, but younger children might need to be instructed to make their way to a certain area of the roof before waiting for assistance. You might wish to draw a plan of your home, marking all exits (including the windows). This allows you to work out the most appropriate exits in an emergency.

Meeting Point

It's not enough to evacuate your home in the event of a fire. You also need to decide upon a meeting point. This needs to be somewhere obvious, such as by your letterbox. If your letterbox is located too close to your home to be safe, then in front of a neighbour's house can be a good choice.

What to Bring

What should you bring with you when your home is on fire? You really shouldn't attempt to save any of your possessions, and the vital thing is to get yourself and your family out of your home as quickly as possible. If possible, collect your mobile phone. Only attempt to do so if it happens to be right next to where you're located when you decide to evacuate. This allows you to contact emergency services immediately after your escape, ensuring that you don't waste valuable minutes waking a neighbour when a fire happens at night. Again, please don't take any risks to retrieve your mobile phone. In order to minimise the temptation of saving things from your home, you might want to invest in a fireproof box. This is an immensely important tool when it comes to fire protection, and it means that important documents such as birth certificates, passports, and your insurance policies will remain safe after you flee.

An evacuation plan is an important when it comes to keeping your family safe.