Be Prepared for a Fire

9/1/2022 (Permalink)

House fires come when you are least expecting it and can spread quickly throughout your home with little time to escape.

House fires come when you are least expecting it and can spread quickly throughout your home with little time to escape. That is why it is important to create a fire safety plan for you and your loved ones. The National Fire Protection Association has very useful tips to help you be prepared if you have a house fire.  

Escape Planning Tips  

• Get everyone in your household together to plan. Inspect all possible exits and escape routes in your home. If you have children, consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, and marking the locations of smoke alarms.  
• Install smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside of each bedroom, and on every level of your house.  
• When walking through your plan, check to make sure your escape routes are clear, and doors and windows can open easily.  
• Choose an outside meeting place that is a safe distance from your home.  
• Make sure your street number is clearly visible from the road. If it is not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers to make sure that emergency responder can find your house.  
• Have everyone in your household memorize the fire department's phone number.  
• If you have infants, older adults, or family members with mobility limitations in your household, make sure that someone is assigned to help them in a drill and the event of an emergency.  
• Inform visitors about your fire plan.  
• Be prepared for a real fire, once you hear smoke alarms, get out immediately.  
• Once you are out of the house, DO NOT go back in.  

It is always better to be safe than sorry. It is also important to be prepared in the event of a fire. For more information on how to create your fire plan, visit nfpa.org.