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If a fire started in your house, there would be no time to waste. You and your family need to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
Fires are unpredictable and they spread very quickly. Smoke can make it difficult to see and breathe. If your family does not have a fire escape plan in place, you need to create one.
- Draw a map of every floor of your house. Remember to include all doors and windows on your map.
- Find two possible escape routes from each room. It's important to plan two escape routes in case one is blocked by fire or smoke.
- Get a ladder to keep near the upstairs bedrooms. If you don't have a ladder, then you should buy one on your next shopping trip.
- Plan an outdoor "meeting place" for you and your family members if your house does catch fire.
- Stage a fire escape rehearsal twice a year. You can do this on the same day as when you test your batteries when clocks are changed for Daylight Savings Time on the first Sunday of April and the last Sunday of October.
If you hear a smoke alarm sound in your house:
- Do not take anything. There is no time to waste.
- Do not hide. Leave the house as quickly as possible and stay out.
- If a door feels hot, do not open it! There may be a fire on the other side. Try to leave from another door or window.
- If you see smoke, stay low to the ground as you leave and crawl if necessary. The air closer to the ground is better to breathe because smoke rises. Smoke can be deadly, too.
- If your clothes catch fire, remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.
- Go to the preplanned "meeting place" to find your family members outside.
- Alert the fire department by calling 911 at a neighbor's house.
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