The following are recommendations for developing a Family Home Safety Plan, each home has a variety of unique characteristics that require each homeowner to develop a plan best suited for their Family & Home.
Things to consider when developing your Home Safety Plan;
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- Have a “Family Meeting” try to make it fun and serious at the same time, this can actually be a great family experience.
- Discuss dialing 911 in an emergency situation, practice staying calm and providing the correct information.
- Make sure everyone understands to get out of the house immediately.
- Determine the closest exit route for each room.
- Discuss and review alternate escape routes in all rooms.
- Determine a meeting place outside the home.
- Install an adequate amount of Smoke Detectors and regularly test them.
- Allow everyone to hear the sound of the smoke detector alarm to familiarize them with the sound.
- Practice the plan, set off the Smoke Detector and have everyone practice their escape routes.
- Determine how often your family will review and practice the plan, a minimum of semi annual practicing is recommended.
- Install Fire Department Window identifiers for children’s rooms.
- Install approved Type-A B C fire extinguishers on every floor of the house and educate everyone on the proper operation.
- Locked doors can be tough to unlock in a smoke filled room. Be sure to install door locks that can be easily unlocked in an emergency. Doors that require a key to exit may be trouble during a fire.
- Make sure each member of the family practices unlocking the door.
- Stay low, heat and smoke rise to the top of the room.
- Learn and practice the stop drop and roll method.
- For multi-story homes a fire escape chain or rope ladder is recommended with sufficient training.
Keep adding to your Family Home Safety Plan and practice often!
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