1) Have an escape plan that you practice monthly with two escape routes from each room. Security bars and locked doors must have quick releases. 2) If a fire occurs, immediately leave the home through the safest exit. Crawl low under smoke and keep your mouth covered. 3) Once outside, stay outside. Meet at a designated location away from the home and take attendance. Notify the fire department by calling 911.

1. Get Out Safely! A Factsheet on Fire Escape Planning
M
ore than 4,000 Americans die each year in res, and 20,000 are injured. Deaths resulting
from failed emergency escapes are particularly avoidable. The U. S. Fire Administration
(USFA), a part of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, believes that having a sound
escape plan will greatly reduce re deaths and protect you and your family’s safety if a re occurs.
HAVE A SOUND FIRE bars must have quick release devices to under a speci c tree or at the end of
ESCAPE PLAN allow them to be opened immediately the driveway or front sidewalk to make
in an emergency. Make sure everyone sure everyone has gotten out safely
In the event of a re, remember in the family understands and practices and no one will be hurt looking for
- time is the biggest enemy and every how to properly operate and open someone who is already safe. Designate
second counts! Escape plans help you locked or barred doors and windows. one person to go to a neighbor’s home
get out of your home quickly. In less to phone the re department.
than 30 seconds a small ame can get
completely out of control and turn IMMEDIATELY LEAVE THE HOME
into a major re. It only takes minutes When a re occurs, do not waste any ONCE OUT, STAY OUT
for a house to ll with thick black time saving property. Take the safest Remember to escape rst, then notify
smoke and become engulfed in ames. exit route, but if you must escape the re department using the 911
through smoke, remember to crawl system or proper local emergency
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS low, under the smoke and keep your number in your area. Never go back
mouth covered. The smoke contains into a burning building for any reason.
toxic gases which can disorient you or, Teach children not to hide from
PRACTICE ESCAPING FROM at worst, overcome you. re ghters. If someone is missing, tell
EVERY ROOM IN THE HOME the re ghters. They are equipped to
Practice escape plans every month. NEVER OPEN DOORS THAT ARE perform rescues safely.
The best plans have two ways to get
out of each room. If the primary
HOT TO THE TOUCH Finally, having working smoke alarms
way is blocked by re or smoke, When you come to a closed door, installed on every level of your home
you will need a second way out. A use the back of your hand to feel the dramatically increases your chances of
secondary route might be a window top of the door, the doorknob, and survival. Smoke alarm batteries need
onto an adjacent roof or using an the crack between the door and door to be tested every month and changed
Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) frame to make sure that re is not on with new ones at least once a year.
approved collapsible ladder for escape the other side. If it feels hot, use your Also, consider replacing the entire
from upper story windows. Make sure secondary escape route. Even if the smoke alarm every ten years, or as the
that windows are not stuck, screens door feels cool, open it carefully. Brace manufacturer guidelines recommend.
can be taken out quickly and that your shoulder against the door and
security bars can be properly opened. open it slowly. If heat and smoke come
Also, practice feeling your way out in, slam the door and make sure it is For more information contact:
of the house in the dark or with your securely closed, then use your alternate The U. S. Fire Administration
eyes closed. escape route. 16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
SECURITY BARS REQUIRE DESIGNATE A MEETING or
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS PLACE OUTSIDE AND TAKE Visit the USFA Web site:
Security bars may help to keep your ATTENDANCE www.usfa.fema.gov
family safe from intruders, but they Designate a meeting location away
can also trap you in a deadly re! from the home, but not necessarily Homeland
Windows and doors with security across the street. For example, meet Security
March 2006