Four Steps to Creating a Fire Escape Plan

12/16/2020 (Permalink)

Creating a Fire Escape Plan

The best time to formulate a fire escape plan is before there is a fire. The American Red Cross shared in its Home Fire Escape Plan that there may be just two minutes to get to safety. The following four steps can help prepare you and your family for the event you hope never happens.

1.) Draw a Floor Plan With Escape Routes -- Drawing a floor plan that shows two escape routes from every room can help people visualize how they will escape, depending on the location of the fire. Use both doors and windows as exit points. Assign a primary and backup adult to each person who may need help exiting the building. Floor plans can be posted on doors as reminders.

2.) Choose an Outdoor Meeting Place -- Make sure that everyone knows where to meet and immediately goes to that location upon exiting the home or building. The meeting place should be a safe distance away and included on the emergency escape plan drawing.

3.) Memorize the Emergency Phone Number -- All home occupants, including children, should memorize the Austin, Texas emergency phone number and be able to call for help. They should also know the street address to help emergency responders quickly find the location.

4.) Practice -- Run fire drills using each escape route and time them to make sure all occupants can exit the building within a 2 minute time frame. Test smoke alarms and make sure all occupants know how they sound. Practice crawling low to the ground as if there were smoke present, and make sure each person knows to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire.

You hope it never happens, but it is best to be prepared in case it does. Save lives by having a fire escape plan and ensure the entire household knows how to exit the home or building quickly and call for help. Once everyone is, damage assessment and restoration efforts can begin.