Most people think a home fire won’t happen to them.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data, the home is actually where people are at greatest risk, with 74 percent of all U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes.
As a First Alert Pro Resideo Premier Partner, we are trying to do our part to reduce these statistics by installing monitored smoke and CO detectors for families and businesses in your neighborhood. We are also educating our community about things they can do to reduce their risk.
We wanted to share with you some important safety information that can help you with your escape plan.
It’s imperative that your family has a well-rehearsed escape plan. Practicing fire drills ensures that your emergency escape plan goes smoothly in the event of a real fire. Have a fire drill with everyone in your home, at night as well as during to increase the chances of a safe escape.
Don’t Jump Up Out of Bed
If you awaken and sense a fire, do not jump up out of bed. Remember, the heat is more intense the farther from the floor. Instead, roll out of bed onto the floor.
Crawl to the Door
After you roll onto the floor, crawl over to the door, which you should always keep closed while you are asleep. Touch the door, both low and higher up to see if it is hot. If it is, DO NOT OPEN IT! Instead, plan to use an alternate escape route.
Try the Door
If the door is not hot to the touch, open it about one to two inches only, slowly bracing it firmly, as there may be pressure from gases on the other side that could force the door to open quickly. If the air from behind the door is warm, do not use the hallways. Pull the door shut and use an alternate escape route.
How to Crawl to Safety
If you are able to crawl to safety via the hallways, keep your head about one to two feet off the floor. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth. Take short, shallow breaths.
Escape Ladders
Keep an escape collapsible ladder secured at the window of each bedroom above the first level, and instruct family members in advance on how to use them. Practice using the escape ladder from a first-floor window.
Prearrange a Meeting Place
Pick a meeting spot where all family members must go after escaping a fire. The meeting spot needs to be a safe distance from your home and easy to reach, such as a neighbor’s driveway, fire hydrant, street sign, etc.
Material Objects Can Be Replaced
Do not go back into a burning home for material objects. If at all possible, pull the door closed behind you upon escaping, to hamper the spread of the fire accelerated by a draft.
This blog post was developed with information from the National Fire Protection Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, American Red Cross, and National Safety Council.
