The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
www.TheNewsyNeighbour.com
May Issue 115
Article Provided By: Jane Bennet
Whether you live in a house, apartment,
townhouse or a mobile home, it's imperative that you take time to create a fire
emergency plan that helps keep your family safe. Every family member should know
exactly what to do in the event of a fire emergency.
A good escape plan takes into
consideration various factors, such as the layout of your home and which family
members are responsible for whom. Your family can cope better with fire
emergencies by making advance preparations and working cooperatively. Follow
these steps to develop an effective and comprehensive escape plan:
1. Draw a clear floor plan.
Create a simple map of your home, ensuring
all windows, doors and smoke alarms are clearly labeled. You may want to
download and print out a fire escape grid template online, and then draw your
floor plan. Alternatively, use a graph paper, if available. Make sure to
identify all possible exits on each floor, including windows and back doors. It
helps to include arrow symbols to show the right path to go.
Identify two or more potential exit routes
for each room and level, and come up with different escape routes in case one
of the exits gets blocked by smoke, fire, furniture or debris. Provide copies
of the escape plan to each family member, and display one in a visible area,
such as the refrigerator. Your escape plan should be simple and easy to
understand to avoid confusion.
2. Gather your entire family to discuss
your fire escape plan.
Your whole family should be present when
discussing the importance of preparing for and dealing with fire emergencies.
Be sure to explain the dangers of fire, especially to young children. Encourage
everyone at home to take extra caution and avoid playing with potential
culprits of fires, such as matches and lighters. Work together as a team, and
plan to share responsibilities instead of leaving family members to fend for
themselves. After explaining everything, make sure everyone fully understands
the escape plan; for a more interactive discussion, invite questions or ideas.
3. Include safety tips in the plan.
Jot down crucial actions that will help
reduce risks of injury. You may want to create bullet points for better
readability. When fire occurs, your family should be aware not to open doors
that are hot to the touch, as there will be a fire on the other side. It's
better to feel the doorknob first; if it's hot, a secondary escape route
should be pursued.
When there's less smoke and heat, crawling
on the floor is recommended. Instruct your family to never go back to the
burning home once they reach safety. Remind your family not to panic and run if
clothes catch fire; the appropriate reaction is to cover the face and roll over
the ground to extinguish the flames.
4. Consider family members' physical
qualities and health conditions.
Consider the characteristics of every
family member, including age, height and physical condition. Small kids
particularly need more attention, as they tend to panic easily and hide under
beds. Teach them to get out of the house immediately during dangerous
situations. Household members with disabilities or special conditions should
also be taken into account when choosing escape routes. Assign family members
who will be responsible for assisting young kids, seniors and those with health
conditions, once they hear the smoke alarm.
5. Keep emergency tools handy and fire
protection equipment in good condition.
Collapsible ladders that are approved by a
recognized testing laboratory are a useful emergency escape tool. If your home
has security bars on windows, make sure they have a quick-release mechanism on
the inside and that your family knows how to use it. Power banks can help keep
mobile devices powered up for constant communication when there's a blackout.
Test your smoke detectors once a month, and change the batteries a couple of
times each year. Also, if you have any fire extinguishers, test and recharge
them properly.
6. Decide where to meet after escaping the
house.
Another critical part of your disaster
plan is knowing where to meet after evacuating the house. Although you may
decide the ideal location to meet is right outside your home, it's
essential to choose secondary meetup points, such as the home of a trusted
relative or neighbour. Remind your family members to dial 911 immediately after
they get out safely.
7. Perform emergency evacuation drills.
After the planning phase, practicing your
escape plan is crucial. Remember that it takes only a short time for a small
flame to get completely out of control and turn into a major fire, especially
when combustible household products are nearby.
Repeat the drill regularly, preferably at
least two times per year; it's also a good idea to practice both at daytime and
at night. Be sure to involve everyone at home, from children to seniors. Allow
your children to master fire escape evacuation before practicing at night.
During the drill, make changes to the emergency plan as you discover weaknesses
and find safer and quicker ways to escape.
8. Prepare an emergency supply kit.
A basic disaster supply kit includes a
first aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, water and packaged,
non-perishable food. Additionally, prepare a hand crank or battery-powered
radio with extra batteries. Other must-have items to add to your supply kit
include a whistle, dust masks, mobile phones with solar chargers, a manual can
opener, local maps and personal hygiene items. Have a grab bag ready so you can
leave the house in a rush while carrying all the necessary items you need.
Preparing for emergencies gives you and
your family peace of mind, knowing that you're aware of exactly what to do when
a fire disaster strikes. Make sure to update your fire escape plan whenever
necessary, especially when you renovate or change the layout of your home or
move into another house. With a well-thought-out and regularly practiced
emergency plan, you and your family will be ready to take action when the
unexpected occurs, rather than succumb to panic and fear.
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