While you certainly hope you will never deal with a house fire, it’s essential to be prepared for an emergency. Having a plan in place will ensure your family gets out safely and your home experiences minimal fire and water damage. Use the guide below to create a fire escape plan and master it for impeccable execution.

What Should You Include in a Fire Escape Plan?

The goal of an escape plan is for every member of the family to be able to get out of the house in under a minute when they hear the smoke alarm sound. Draw a floor plan of your home and include all windows and doors. Lay out at least two exits per room since one exit could be blocked off due to a fire. Smoke alarms should be installed in the kitchen and bedrooms. Choose an outdoor meeting place at a safe distance from the home, such as under a tree in the park across the street or at your neighbor’s house.

Know your local emergency contact numbers for the fire department, so you can call quickly in the event of an emergency. Understand that if a fire does occur, both fire and water damage are a concern. Firefighters will douse the home in water to put out the flames, and acting quickly by calling a fire and water damage remediation company will limit the impact. Keep the number of a reliable company on hand, so you can call them if a fire occurs.

How Can You Master the Plan?

Have a family meeting where you go over the plan and practice escaping from each room. Make sure each child knows how to escape their own room; if there is a fire at night, they might need to get out on their own. If their windows have locks or screens, make sure they know how to open them quickly. Teach them what the smoke alarm sounds like, as well as basic fire safety. For example, they should always lightly touch a doorknob to see if it’s hot before opening it. They should also crawl close to the floor to avoid breathing smoke. 

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