Fire escape plans seem unnecessary. I mean all things considered, how likely is it that your home will catch on fire? Unlikely. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
There is a reason why schools constantly have fire drills and promote fire escape plans to the children. On the off chance that a fire does start, it can very quickly get out of control. In those moments, you need to act fast. A lot of people freeze during an emergency. The beauty of already having a plan is that you don’t need to think. You simply have to act. Below are a Fire Escape Plan for your Home in Chicago.
Are You Ready?
Being ready is one of the simplest, but most important points. What does that mean? It means having a plan. It means having all your emergency supplies stashed in a place where you can reach it in a split second.
Purchase everything you are going to need. This includes collapsible ladders, especially if you live in a home with more than one floor. Your windows should not be broken. Check them every month or so to make sure they can open properly. If they don’t open, look at getting them fixed. You don’t want to be escaping a fire only to realize you can’t get the window open.
Also have a fixed point where everyone can meet. In the event of a fire, it can get chaotic and it becomes hard to keep everyone together. Rather than worrying about the possibility of who might have gotten out and who didn’t, just meet up at the agreed spot. Whoever’s not there is probably still in the fire.
What’s Your Plan?
Everyone should have an emergency plan specially tailored to their home. You know your home best. You know which windows and doors offer the best escape. Use it to your advantage.
Always have at least two escape routes. If you only have one and it’s blocked, then you are pretty much out of luck. It is also wise to keep your collapsible ladders by your exits. You don’t want to be scrambling around the house trying to find it as a fire rages behind you.
Practice the escape plan a few times so your entire family knows it. They may find it pointless and hopefully it stays pointless, but if an emergency ever occurs, they will be thankful you made them practice.
Also, if you have someone in your family with a disability, account for them in your plan. They need an accessible escape as well. Some tips during the situation; close doors behind you to slow down the movement of the fire. If worse comes to worse, seal yourself into a room and cover the cracks around the door to prevent smoke from coming through.
Are You Prepared?
You now have a plan, great! Just remember to stay prepared. Don’t be lax. Considering having an alarm system installed in your home. Not only will it detect the beginnings of a fire and alert the proper authorities, but it can also be useful in case of break-ins.
Just remember to stay on top of the situation. Prevention is the best way to avoid fires, but when that is not possible, being prepared will go a long way to lessening the damage of the situation.
