June is National Safety Month, and we want to share how you can stay safe in case of a house fire. Creating a fire escape plan will allow you to be prepared if this horrible accident happens as a fire can spread through an entire house in minutes. The ability to evacuate your home safely and quickly depends on your smoke alarms and preparation.  

We are sharing ten tips to make a home fire escape plan, directly from the National Fire Protection Association.  

  1. Walk through your home and locate all evacuation locations. 
  2. Install smoke alarms in every room where people sleep. 
  3. If you have children, draw a floor plan of your home, location two exits out of every room. 
  4. Choose an outside meeting place where you go after you escape the fire. 
  5. Memorize the emergency phone number for the fire department. 
  6. Make sure your house number is clearly visible on the outside of your house. 
  7. Assign someone to assist elderly, mobility-limited individuals, or infants out of the fire. 
  8. If windows in your home have security bars, make sure they have an emergency release device. 
  9. Close doors behind you, slowing the spread of the fire. 
  10. Once you are out of the fire, do not enter your home. 

In some cases, there is too much smoke from the fire so you will have to “seal yourself in for safety.” This should also be in your escape plan because this is quite common. You will need to seal the door cracks and the air vents. This can be done with items like blankets and towels, or even duct tape. Opening a window can also allow fresh air to be let in.  

It is also important not to block doors and windows because they can hinder your escape in the event of a fire. Even the slightest delay can be the difference between life and death. Remember to practice your fire escape plan twice a year. Identify two evacuation locations from each room and make sure all members of your family can use them.  

We want you to be safe today, and every day. We hope these tips inspire you to create a fire escape plan and take action to keep you and your loved ones safe. If you have an existing escape plan, you could implement some of these tips into it. If you have any questions, please contact us!