Home Escape Planning - “Have Two Ways Out!”

The child fire death rate spikes during July in Tennessee. Help us stop this trend by practicing fire safety in your home. Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with your family today!

4.1 Planning 
4.1.1 Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of each level of the home. Show all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your household, including visitors.
4.1.2 Children, older adults, and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them.
4.1.3 Teach your children how to escape on their own in case you cannot help them.
4.1.4 Practice your home fire drill with overnight guests.
4.1.5 Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
4.1.6 If a room has a window air conditioner, make sure there is still a second way out of the room.
4.1.7 If you sleep with the bedroom door closed, install smoke alarms inside and outside the bedroom. For the best protection, make sure all smoke alarms are interconnected.
4.1.8 Windows with security bars, grills, and window guards should have emergency release devices.
4.1.9 Make sure everyone in your home knows how to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number from a cell phone or from a neighbor’s phone.
4.1.10 Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound and understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
4.1.11 Have an outside meeting place (something permanent, like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) a safe distance in front of the home.
4.1.12 Make sure your house number can be seen day or night from the street.
4.1.13 Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.

4.2   If There Is a Fire
4.2.1 When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Go to the outside meeting place. Call 9-1-1.
4.2.2 If there is smoke blocking your door or first way out, use your second way out.
4.2.3 Smoke is poisonous. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
4.2.4 Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, leave the door closed and use your second way out.
4.2.5 If there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out. 
4.2.6 If you open a door, open it in slow manner. Be ready to shut it if heavy smoke or fire is present.
4.2.7 If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out. Call 9-1-1or your fire department. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
4.2.8 If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.
4.2.9 If pets are trapped inside your home, tell fire fighters right away. Never re-enter a burning building.

4.3 Practicing the Home Fire Drill
4.3.1 Push the smoke alarm button to start the drill.
4.3.2 Practice what to do in case there is smoke. Get low and go. Get out fast.
4.3.3 Practice using different ways out.
4.3.4 Close doors behind you as you leave.
4.3.5 Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets, or things.
4.3.6 Go to your outside meeting place.
4.3.7 Practice your home fire escape drill twice a year with everyone in your home.
Practice at night and during the daytime. 
4.3.8 After you have practiced your home fire escape drill, evaluate it and discuss what worked and what needs to be improved. Improve it and practice again.
 
Close the Door!
Did You Know?
• A door is one of the best pieces of firefighting & lifesaving equipment.
• The simple act of closing the door reduces fire growth & spread, limits damage to your home, & could possibly save lives.
• If you have to leave a room that is on fire, closing the door behind you can be the best decision you make.
 
While the two most important things to remember in the event of a fire are to get out of the building and call 9-1-1, fire officials point out that simply closing doors behind you on your way out can help stop flames and smoke from spreading to other rooms. It also deprives a fire of oxygen, helping to slow it down and allowing occupants more time to escape.