Family Escape Planning |
|
 |
| |
 |
Barnard Fire Department |
3084 Dewey Ave
Rochester, NY 14616
Phone: (585) 663-1113
Fax: (585) 621-7547 |
| |
|
 |
Fire Prevention Week: Oct 3-9 |
| |
Family Escape Planning  |
| |
Escape Planning |
|
Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning — a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced. |
 |
| |
Facts and Figures |
|
- Only one-fifth to one-fourth of households (23%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely.
- One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out
|
|
| |
Basic Fire Escape Planning |
Would your family know what to do if your home caught on fire? If you’re like most people, the answer is “no.” |
The Fire Departments in the Town of Greece and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
invite you to take part in this year’s “E.D.I.T.H. Drill” (Exit Drills In The Home). This campaign is designed
to emphasize the importance of developing and practicing a home fire escape plan. As part of
E.D.I.T.H., on Saturday October 9th, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., we are asking you to participate
in a unified fire drill and practice your home fire escape plan along with hundreds of other families in the
Town of Greece.
Using our example floor plan below as a guide, create an escape plan of your home (see sidebar at
bottom right for important planning tips). While every home is different, there are some things all home
fire escape plans should have in common.
|
Smoke Alarms |
You need at least one smoke alarm near each sleeping area and on each level of your
home. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed (as we suggest), make sure everyone can hear
the smoke alarm, or consider installing one inside the bedroom. Test smoke alarms monthly.
Replace batteries at least twice a year or
when the alarm “chirps,” signaling low voltage.
If you have any questions about smoke
alarm placement, testing, or installation,
please contact your local fire department.
Smoke alarms are available for those who
are in need. |
Two Ways Out |
Every room should have
at least two ways out. Your first way out
should be the door and the second way out
may be a window. Your second way out
may be used for escaping to a roof, balcony,
porch, or another location where you would
signal for the fire department if you are unable
to escape. Fire rescue ladders are available
(we suggest going online) and may help
make escape from upper floors safer. Also,
notice any obstacles along escape paths and,
if possible, remove them. |
A Family Meeting Place |
Choose a spot outside and in front of your home where everyone will
meet once safely outside. A good meeting place would be a tree, telephone pole, or a neighbor's
home. |
Plenty of Practice |
Practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year. Whenever a
smoke alarm sounds, take it seriously and put your home fire escape plan into action immediately.
(In most cases, you only have a couple of minutes to safely escape.) As you exit, close all doors
behind you to slow the spread of smoke or flames. If there’s a real fire and you encounter smoke as
you escape your home, use a different exit. If you must escape through a smoky area, stay low under
the smoke where the air is cleaner and cooler. Once you are out, stay out! Do not go back
into the house for anything. Call 911 from a neighbor’s house (or a cell phone if you have one on
you). If you live in an apartment, make sure you exit the building and call 911 from another building. |
The plan includes:
- A floor plan showing eachroom in the home;
- Two marked exits (a door and
a window) for every room;
- Working smoke alarms on
every level;
- An outside meeting place in
front of the home;
- A drawn path from each
room to the meeting place;
- Call 911 from outside
|
|
|
| |
|
