How To Prepare Your Family For a House Fire

2/21/2018 (Permalink)

Make sure your family is ready!

• Call your local fire department or volunteer rescue organization to schedule an in-home visit. Most communities offer fire prevention training as a free service to residents. Firefighters can offer suggestions for coming up with the safest route possible out of your home, check your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, and point out potential fire hazards.
• Identify two ways out of every room. This helps to avoid panic if one path is too dangerous to follow.
• Create a simple, efficient route. The idea is to get out of the house as quickly as possible – a small fire can become an out-of-control blaze in less than 30 seconds.
• Practice fire drills with your family and everyone who regularly cares for your children. Practice leaving the house with your eyes closed or a blindfold on – fire starts with a bright flame but quickly fills the house with black smoke and complete darkness.
• If you live in a house that has two or more stories, buy a portable escape ladder that can be lowered out a window. Make sure it's tested by a nationally reputable laboratory (such as Underwriters Laboratory), and show everyone where ladder is kept and how it works.
• If you live in an apartment building, don't include elevators in your evacuation plan because they can easily malfunction or get stuck between floors.
• Teach your children that if they get trapped in their room, they should lie on the floor close to their bed. That's where firefighters will look for them.
• Designate a meeting place – a safe spot outside the house where everyone can gather and be accounted for.

If you have any questions, call SERVPRO Cedar Mill/ Oak Hills at (503) 619-6198 to help you develop an Emergency Readiness Plan.