The Importance of a Home Escape Plan

10/15/2021 (Permalink)

The Value Of Having A Home Escape Plan

Preparing for a fire may seem simple but having a set plan for evacuating your home in San Mateo, CA, can save your life and the lives of your family members. Not matter how small the fire appears to be, fire damage specialists recommend immediate evacuation. The American Red Cross outlines a model fire escape plan to help keep a bad day from becoming your worst day.

1. Install smoke alarms. Every bedroom and at least one communal area in every level of your home should have a smoke alarm. For a two-story, five-bedroom home, this means you should have at least seven smoke detectors. Test the batteries in each device monthly and replace all the batteries at least once a year.

2. Discuss escape routes. Have a family conversation about what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do if it goes off. Your emergency escape plan should include backup paths from every room just in case the quickest path is blocked.

3. Have a meetup plan. Pick a location outside your home where family members will meet if they are separated during the fire. Have a secondary place or a point of contact in case someone cannot get to the meetup area. Teach children how to call 9-1-1.

4. Practice the plan. Once you have a solid fire escape plan, practice it at least twice a year. This increases the chances of muscle memory overriding the stress inherent in an actual emergency.

5. Stop, drop and roll. Discuss with your family what to do if they or their clothing come in contact with the fire. Incorporate the stop-drop-and-roll method of putting out these smaller fires into your emergency preparedness practice sessions.

As unpleasant as the thought of a home fire in San Mateo , CA, may be, it is important to know what to do in case such an event ever occurs. By having a fire escape plan, discussing it with your family and giving yourselves regular fire drills, you can be more prepared to face it if it happens.