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4. Develop a family escape plan and practice it with your entire family. Be sure to include small children In your
practice.
•
Draw a floor plan of your home, and find two ways to exit from each room. There should be one way to get out of each
room without opening the door.
•
Explain to children what the smoke alarm signal means. Teach them that they must be prepared to leave the home by
themselves if necessary. Show them how to check to see if doors are hot before opening them. Show them how to stay
close to the floor, crawl if necessary. Show them how to use the alternate exit if the door is hot and should not be opened.
•
Decide on a meeting place a safe distance from your house. Make sure that all your children understand that they should go
and wait for you there if there is a fire.
•
Hold fire drills at least every 6 months to make sure that everyone, even small children, know what to do to escape safely.
•
Know where to go to call the Fire Brigade from outside your home.
•
Provide emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, and teach your family to use this equipment properly.
Contact your local Fire Brigade. They will give you more ideas about how to make your
home safer from fires and how to plan your family's escape.
