Steps to Creating a Fire Escape Plan

11/27/2019 (Permalink)

The thought of a fire starting in your North Miami, home would certainly fill you with fear. Though you may not think this could happen to you, it's important to be prepared in case this disaster strikes. In addition to having functioning smoke alarms to alert you of the danger, you should develop a fire escape plan so everyone in your household knows how to get to safety.

Identify Exit Routes
During a home fire, every second counts. You may not have a lot of time to get out before the fire spreads and before flames and smoke block every path. As a family, walk through your house and point out every possible exit point. Also, make sure you do the following:

Identify the easiest windows to open.
Make sure everyone knows how to open windows.
Choose two safe exits from every room in the house.

Choose a Meeting Place
Deciding where to meet outside the home is one of the most important aspects of fire preparation. Everyone in your family needs to know precisely where to go after exiting. This should be a spot far enough away from the house that you're safe. This could be a neighbor's house or a nearby park.

Make Assignments
If you have younger or elderly family members that would need assistance getting out of the home, ensure that someone helps get them out. This is also important in a fire escape plan for people with physical limitations. Assign someone to retrieve pets in the event of a fire, too.

Practice
At least twice a year, you should run through the escape plan. Time yourself to see how fast you can exit, and note improvements from year to year. Go through a test run at different times, including at night.