Escape Plan Designing
In every home, there should be an escape plan to help your family know what to do in the event of fire, theft, carbon monoxide poisons, etc. The plan should have details of your home area (All rooms) and demonstrate at least two ways to escape the home in every room.
Once you write the plan, you should practice regularly and post the plan in an area where your family members can view it often. First, if you haven’t installed fire alarms and CO alarms do so immediately. The alarms have proven to save millions of lives. You want to make sure the alarms are installed properly, and working properly.
When writing an escape plan make, sure that each family member is present. This is the key to learning, growing, and staying alive.
Starting your plan, once you outline all rooms in your home, write two escapes for each room. Consider windows, doors, etc. You want to discover new ways out of the home in the event your original escape plan fails. Discover new ways out of the home. Once you have laid out your escape plan and backup plan, consider your family.
Do you have infants? Do you have elderly in the home, limited to mobility? Do you have disabled members in your home, including hearing impairments, deaf, etc? Does your family sleep heavy or light, will they wake up to the sound of smoke alarms.
Start
You want to write in your plan someone to attend to infants, elderly, disabled, deaf, etc in the event of fire or carbon monoxide poison. The family should be alert to meet in a safe area outside of the home. The family should also know that stopping for materials is not an option. Materials are replaceable lives are not. Children should be taught to escape the home immediately in the event of fire. Panic is not a choice in the eyes of danger. Rather panic is the leading cause of many problems. Do not panic, do not hide, rather get out of the home now! Teach your children. At the closing of your plans, do not forget to include an outdoor meeting area for your entire family.
Now that you have written your escape plan, it is time to practice drills. You want each member of your family participating in the fire drills. Experts recommend that you practice at least twice annually, however I beg to differ.
Consider; some people forget more so than others do, especially older people and small children. Consider these people and practice more often. The experts do not consider Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, disabilities, etc.
When to Practice
You should practice escape drills during sleep hours. When your family is sleeping, it is the best time to prepare them to get out of the home. This will also help reduce panic attacks, etc.
As you practice drills, make sure each family member assigned to assist those with hearing difficulties; immobility, etc know what to do. Never assign a small child to assist another family member out of the home.
Hint: Did you know that carelessness makes up for the portion of fires started over criminal activities.
Tip: Campfires are fun family experiences, yet it is important that you as the adult make sure the fire is not, left unattended. In addition, make sure the fire is completely out before leave in the area.
Facts; did you know that even small fires can cause serious damage. The truth is you may put out small fires, yet hidden fire could go undetected.