Home Escape Plan

You can prevent tragedies simply by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms and practicing a fire escape plan. Every family should develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. These actions are essential because working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan will increase your protection and can save your life during a fire.

Develop and PRATICE an Escape Plan

Everyone must participate and rehearse an escape plan so that when the smoke alarm sounds, family members will immediately move to a safe location outside the home.

• Every family should develop a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with the entire household.
• The plan should include two ways out of every room and include a meeting place outside.
• Practice the fire escape plan with your children, baby-sitter, and older family members.
• During practice, it is important to be aware of and remove obstacles that may prevent a quick and safe evacuation, such as blocked exits or jammed or barred windows.
• Children may not awaken from the sound of a smoke alarm. Parents should hold a fire drill during the night so they can assess their children’s ability to awaken and respond appropriately.

If children, or any other family member, cannot awaken to or hear the smoke alarm, the escape plan should be adjusted accordingly to help get all family members out safely.

Don't wait for a fire in your home to test your smoke alarm and develop a fire escape plan... DO IT NOW

Test your smoke alarm and regularly replace its batteries.

Develop and practice your fire escape plan with your family.