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22
15. Good Safety Habits
Develop and Practice a Plan of Escape
Prepare and practice a home escape plan twice a year, including drills at night. Know two ways out of every room (door
& window) and identify a meeting place outside the home where everyone will gather once they have exited the resi-
dence. When two people have reached the meeting place, one should leave to call 911 while the second person stays to
account for additional family members. Establish a rule that once you’re out, you never re-enter under any circumstance!
• Make a floor plan indicating all doors and windows and at least two (2) escape routes from each room. Second story
windows may need a rope or chain ladder.
• Have a family meeting and discuss your escape plan, showing everyone what to do in case of fire and where to
meet after they leave the house.
• Ensure that small children hear the alarm and wake when it sounds. They must wake up in order to execute the
escape plan. Practice allows all occupants to test your plan before an emergency. You may not be able to reach your
children. It is important they know what to do.
• Familiarize everyone with the sounds of the smoke alarm and train them to leave your home when they hear it.
• Current studies have shown smoke alarms may not awaken all sleeping individuals, and that it is the responsibility
of individuals in the household that are capable of assisting others to provide assistance to those who may not be
awakened by the alarm sound, or to those who may be incapable of safely evacuating the area unassisted.
• Install and maintain fire extinguishers on every level of the home and in the kitchen, basement and garage. Know
how to use a fire extinguisher prior to an emergency.
Fire Prevention
Never smoke in bed, or leave cooking food unattended. Teach children never to play with matches or lighters! Train
everyone in the home to recognize the smoke alarm pattern and to leave the home using their escape plan when it’s
heard. Know how to do “Stop, Drop and Roll” if clothes catch on fire, and how to crawl low under smoke. Install and
maintain fire extinguishers on every level of the home and in the kitchen, basement and garage.
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