Fire is a very real and potentially deadly danger that can happen to anyone, no matter how careful you are, whether that includes making sure your electrical items, such as washing machines and dryers, are turned off overnight, candles and wax melts are never left burning unattended, and any hazardous chemicals are stored away safely in a container from Storemasta. This is why having a fire escape plan for your home is so important. Your children and everyone else on the property must understand the plan and how to get out should the worst happen. Here are some tips on how to create a fire escape plan that everyone should follow. Hopefully, you will never need to use it, but it is far better to take some time to make one and never use it than need one and not have created it.
Smoke Alarms
Before you even begin to write down your fire escape plan, you need to have smoke alarms installed in your home. Most alarms are simple to install, and you should be able to do it yourself, but if you’re unsure, ask someone who is because these little units can make all the difference when they are in your home. Smoke alarms are your first line of defence against a fire, as they will alert you before the flames really have a chance to take hold in most cases.
Not only should you install smoke detectors, but you will also need to check them regularly to ensure that they work properly and always have a stock of spare batteries to hand for when the current ones run out.
Doors
When you are writing a fire escape plan, you will need to note not only the best exits (depending on which area of the house is on fire) but also useful notes to remind people how to slow the spread of that fire. In the panic that a fire creates, it can be easy to forget this, which can worsen the situation. For example, your escape plan can include information about which doors should be closed to slow down the fire. You can also make these clear by putting up a fire escape sign – there will be no doubt that way as to how to get out.
It is also important to check that all of the escape route doors can be opened easily when needed, and that includes especially the doors to the outside, which will often be locked. Take a look at Door Controls Direct: Your Source for Door Solutions to find something that works for your property. Information about where the keys are or how to safely break a door or window if there is no other way to escape will also be important.
Meeting Place
It might be that not everyone is together when escaping a fire. If you have a large home, for example, or parts of it can’t be accessed, then you will need to make sure that everyone has escaped safely and be able to let the fire department and ambulance technicians know if there is anyone still trapped inside. Therefore, you will need to designate a safe meeting place. It needs to be somewhere that everyone can find, but it should also be at a reasonable distance from your house to keep everyone safe. For example, it might be a neighbour’s yard or a specific street sign. Ensure that this information is included in your plan and that everyone knows what they must do.
House Number
Although you know where you live and what number it is on your street, does that mean everyone can find it quickly and easily? Can the house number be seen from the road? If not, you will need to install a new sign or even paint the number on the curb. You need the fire crew to be able to find your home without any delays, and doing something like this (before it is ever needed) will help them immensely.
What To Take
Fire can cause massive damage, which is why many people feel that they will want to take as many of their possessions as possible with them. This, however, can slow down or even prevent a safe escape from the burning building. There must be a rule that everyone must leave everything in the house and get themselves out. There will be damage, but that can be fixed by a company such as ServiceMaster Restore, that specialises in restoration fire damage; health cannot be so readily fixed, and it is what needs to be thought of first when leaving a burning property.
Emergency Number
Everyone needs to know the emergency number to call to report the fire in the first place. It is something that children should also know so that whoever is out of the house first is able to make that all-important phone call from anywhere. The quicker the emergency services are called, the sooner they can arrive.
