How to Create a Fire Escape Plan?

A fire escape plan is a home safety item that every home needs. Fires break out suddenly and in a matter of seconds spread and turn a small flame into an instant killer. During those few seconds, panic and disorientation can overwhelm one and blur judgment. 

An effective fire escape plan lets all household members know exactly what to do to safely exit the home. It saves lives, reduces confusion, and increases the chances of survival. Taking time to develop, practice, and refine a fire escape plan can literally be a matter of life and death during an emergency.

Why a Fire Escape Plan is Important?

A fire can happen without warning and a plan establishes a chance for a safe exit. Many valid reasons exist which support creating a fire escape plan. Appropriately structured plans show the proper route to safely evacuate while managing panic among people to verify complete individual presence through the emergency plan. Fire can show up at any time. 

      •   A fire escape plan removes ambiguity from your plan of how to exit safely. 

      •   An escape plan removes panic during the time of the emergency.

      •   Emergency response effectiveness depends entirely on having a proper state of preparedness. 

Steps to Create a Fire Escape Plan

1. Assess Your Home or Building Layout

      •   Check your entire home while assessing each escape path that contains doors along with windows and planned routes from the fire escape plan. 

      •   The inspection should verify that both doorways and window assemblies open easily without any physical interruptions.

      •   All residents in the household need to learn about available escape routes.

2. Establish Primary and Secondary Exit Routes

      •   Each room must have at least two possible exit routes should one of the paths become blocked by fire or smoke. 

      •   Draw a floor plan of your residence and identify all escape routes. Post the escape routes plan somewhere they can be easily seen, such as a refrigerator or on a wall near your exits. 

      •   If you reside in a multi-level building, consider acquiring ladders to be connected to an escape route on a second or third level. 

3. Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms

      •   Place a smoke detector on every level of the residence, inside every bedroom. 

      •   Test your smoke and CO2 alarms monthly to ensure they are in working order. 

      •   Change the batteries at least once a year unless the alarm starts to beep, then put in a new battery. 

      •   It is never a good idea to disable the smoke or CO2 alarm in your home (even when cooking). If you feel the smoke detector data is inaccurate, use a fan or an open window.

4. Designate a Meeting Point

      •   Identify a suitable location beyond your home that serves as a meeting point when fire emergencies occur. 

      •   You need to position the designated area at a suitable distance from the house to stay away from safety risks while emergency services remain able to reach you. 

      •   The meeting point location should be accessible by all family members who should rehearse the route to it along with you. 

5. Educate and Practice with Household Members

      •   Fire drills should occur at least 2 times a year to make sure everyone understands and remembers the escape plan. 

      •   Make sure to practice using both the primary and any secondary escape routes. 

      •   It is important to prepare your family members for different scenarios that occur in emergencies such as an exit being blocked. 

Additional Safety Measures to Enhance Your Fire Escape Plan

1. Keep Emergency Numbers Handy:

Post emergency numbers next to the phone, or save them in advance on a mobile device. Help younger children learn to call emergency services when they can have the need. 

2. Use Fire-Resistant Materials:

Use fire-resistant furniture, curtains or building materials to slow fire. Also, there should not be any voltage overload and proper electric wiring is done..

3. Install Fire Extinguishers

      •   Place fire extinguishers in locations that are easy to access (e.g. the kitchen, garage). 

      •   Train family members on how to use a fire extinguisher properly. 

4. Plan for Special Needs

      •   If elderly family members, young children, or people who have disabilities live in your home, arrange for them to have assistance in escaping. 

      •   Assign a family member or trusted individual to be ‘responsible hope,’ or to help someone who may have trouble escaping. 

What to Do During a Fire Emergency?

1) Crouch Down and Crawl:

You know that most of the times smoke rises, therefore your best bet is to stay crawled on the ground to keep your chin above water with your breath. 

2) Test Doors Before Opening:

Feel the back of your hand against a door. If it is hot at the rear side, you should go to another exit. 

3) Close Doors Behind You:

This will help slow the fire. 

4) Do Not Use Lifts:

Use Stairs instead of lifts in a multi-story building.

5) Call:

After escaping from a burning building it is essential to dial 911 without delay. 

Conclusion

Having a fire escape plan represents one essential step that shields your home occupants and family members from fire dangers. When creating home safety fire escape plans people must install smoke alarms in addition to conducting frequent fire drills to learn proper emergency actions.

Your life will be saved from unexpected accidents if you stay prepared. After learning of the dangers associated with these roles, learn how to develop a reliable fire escape plan for your home or workplace.