A Family Emergency Evacuation Plan
Family Fire Safety Depends on Good Preparation
As fathers our main concern is the welfare and safety of our loved ones. While we all work earnestly to protect our families from harm, many of us do not have a proper exit strategy or emergency action plan in place in the event of a unexpected and dangerous situation.
Emergency safety depends heavily on proper planning. It’s critically important that your entire family is aware of what to do in the event of a fire or other emergency. Children especially require a defined plan to help them respond properly when faced with a emergency situation. There are a few very easy steps that will help you and your loved ones react quickly to any emergency event in your home.
Plan your escape route:
This step is critical; you need to write down a primary escape route for your family. Creating a floor plan for all levels of your home and mark down the following:
- Note all potential exits including windows.
- Be sure to designate two ways to exit every room.
- Draw arrows on the plan to clearly designate which way to go, much like you would find in a public building or your workplace.
- Designate a primary meeting spot in the front of your home and one in the backyard if that applies.
A sample escape plan
At least one second floor window in your home should have a fire ladder in place. Mellow dad recommends at least one in the front of the home and one in the rear. Make your children aware of these ladder locations, show them how to open the window and release the ladder. These will be the primary escape routes if the stairwell becomes impassible due fire or smoke. Be very sure they know how to do this themselves.
Procedures to practice:
Primary Instructions
There are four additional directives that you must be deadly sure your children understand. Have them repeat these back to you each time you review the evacuation plan with them.
- Don’t stop to get items or favorite toys
- Don’t stop to call 911
- Don’t go back in the house
- Don’t look for me I will come and get you
Do not wait
Instruct your children that as soon as they hear the smoke alarm or someone smells unexpected smoke or finds a fire, they need to get out. They should not wait for you or try to find you, they need to get out! Most studies show that a average adult can be overwhelmed by smoke in under a minute. Your children do not have time to wait.
Test all doors before opening them
Always test a door with the back of your hand before you open it. If it is hot, leave it closed and exit through a window. Opening a door with fire on the other side will cause the fire to jump into the room with you. Fire follows oxygen and the room without fire has more oxygen than the room that does. Do not fail to inform your children that opening a warm door is something they must never do.
Stay low
Smoke and searing air rise to the ceiling and collect there during a fire descending as the fire continues to burn. Everyone in the home should stay as close as possible to the floor even when thick smoke is not apparent. While this is a critical safety procedure, staying low on hands and knees while practicing an escape plan can make the repetition more enjoyable for children.
Form up
Once out of the house, go to the meeting place and take attendance. Be sure to inform your children that once they get to a meeting place to stay put ! One of the adults can be designated to check the alternate meeting location in the front or back yard. Someone will come for them.
Do not go back inside even if someone is missing
This is a standard and approved message to all persons who make it out of a burning home and should be made very clear to your children. Personally if one of my children is unaccounted for I doubt I will wait for the fire company to arrive. I do not endorse this nor would I expect that of anyone else.
Remember Practice is paramount in this endeavor. We need to make sure out children know how to respond in a emergency immediately and without hesitation.
