Escape Plans
Statistics show that at some point, every American will be affected by fire at one time or another. The key to surviving a fire is having a plan to get out.
But it's not enough to just have an escape plan. hat plan must be second nature. You must be able to execute the plan--literally--with your eyes closed. You must be able to execute the plan after coming out of a sound sleep. And you must be able to execute the plan without knowing what other members of your family might be doing.
That's why the Normal Fire Department is a big proponent of EDITH and DAN. EDITH stands for Exit Drills In The Home, and DAN stands for Drills At Night.
Planning
Every family should have an escape plan. But how difficult is it to come up with a plan? The truth is, it's not very difficult at all. The basic principle is to know two ways out of every room in your home.
You must know two ways out of every room--because you can't be sure in a fire if your preferred escape route will be clear.
For most rooms in your home, the first way out would be the normal means of exiting--out the door. But if you're in a bedroom and there's too much smoke in the hallway to even see, you'll need to be prepared to go out of the window. If you're on a second story, you'll need to make sure you have a rope ladder or something similar stored somewhere close to that window for easy access.
Planning Tips
- Draw a map of your home, with two ways out of every room. Include landmarks on the map. Make a copy for every room and store them in easy-to-remember places. Memorize the map.
- Arrange a meeting place in advance. Make sure everybody knows where to meet in the event of a fire. Firefighters will need to know if everybody is out of the house before they decide on the best course of action. It'll also bring you peace of mind to know that everybody is together.
- Be sure you're particularly aware of what you're going to do with a disabled person, infant or anybody else that can't get around without help that lives in your home.
- If you live in a high-rise apartment, consult your building manager or the fire department to get help with a plan.
Practicing
Having a plan doesn't do any good if you can't execute it in an emergency. For that reason, it's recommended that you practice your plan every six months. You should also practice your plan occasionally at night.
Don't
forget to practice both ways out of each room--even if that includes
using your rope ladder or other device. A fire in the middle of
the night is no time to be trying something for the first time.
You might also want to--after you've become familiar with your escape routes--close your eyes or wear a blindfold and feel your way about your home (with supervision, of course!). After all, your home will look very different if it's filled with smoke. Being able to know where you are in your home without seeing could be a lifesaver in an emergency situation.
Time your drills. You should be able to get out of your home as quickly as possible. In some cases, a house can burn down in less than five minutes--so every second counts.