Exit Drills in the Home

It is important to have a plan to safely exit your home in case of a fire because when disaster strikes, you will not have time to come up with one. Review these Exit Drills in the House from the National Fire Protection Association:

• Design a home escape plan by drawing a map of your residence that shows all exit paths, doorways and windows. Use this form to create your own map.
• Discuss your home escape plan with everyone in your household.
• Practice the plan night and day with everyone in your home twice a year.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
• Have a meeting place (something permanent, like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
• Push the smoke alarm button to start the practice drill.
• Get out fast.
• Practice using different ways out.
• Teach children to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Close doors behind you as you leave.
• Go to your outside meeting place. Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or valuables.
• Use your second way out in the case of an actual fire if smoke is blocking your door or the first way out.
• Get low and go under the smoke to get out safely if you have to escape through smoke.
• Feel the knob and door before opening a door. If they are hot, use your second way out.
• Consider getting escape ladders listed by a recognized testing laboratory for escaping from second and third floor windows if all other exits are blocked.
• Make sure the ladder fits the window.
• To avoid injury, only use the ladder in a real emergency.