How to escape in case of a house fire? Let's make a safety plan (Fire Evacuation Plan)

When we are all busy with our daily lives, we don't think much about a house fire, do we? But when you least expect it, a small mistake while gardening, a cigarette that wasn't put out properly, or an old wiring can start a fire. Smoke and flames can spread throughout the entire house within a minute or two. At that time, we have very little time to escape. Therefore, a safety plan that is made in advance can save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

How to make a Fire Evacuation Plan?

This is something that the whole family should do together. Everyone in the house should be aware of what to do in case of a fire, what early warning signs to look for, and which way to run to get out.

• Install smoke alarms: These should be installed on every floor of the house. Especially in bedrooms, install them one by one, and in those rooms that are open to the light. If possible, install an interconnected system so that when one goes off, all the others sound. That's the safest way to go.

• Teach your family: Teach everyone in your home, especially young children, to recognize the sound of your smoke alarm. Explain that if you hear this sound, it means you need to get out of the house and stay outside. Never go back into a burning house to save people or pets. Leave that to the firefighters.

• Find ways to get out: Walk around the house. Find at least two ways to get out of each room. For example, a door and a window. If you have small children, you can draw a simple plan of the house and mark these ways on it.

• Choose the safest route: Inform your family that the safest way to escape in the event of a fire is the one with the least smoke and heat .

• Choose a place to meet outside: Choose a place where everyone can gather after leaving the house. It should be a safe place that is a short distance from the house. For example, a neighbor's yard, a street lamppost, or a mailbox. Mark this place on your plan.

• Make an emergency call plan: Let everyone in the family know who to call if you can't find each other after you get out.

• Pay attention to safety grilles: Do you have safety grilles on your doors and windows? If so, check to see if they have emergency release devices that can be quickly removed and opened in an emergency, such as a fire.

• Be prepared to help those in need: There may be people in your home who would have difficulty getting out on their own during a fire.
• Babies or children under 6 years old
• Older adults
• A person who has difficulty walking, who is in a sick condition

Name a healthy person in advance who can help these people. If possible, name another person to help in case that person becomes homeless.

• Remember the fire department's phone number: Save the emergency number (119) in everyone's phone. Help your family remember it too. Usually, you should call the fire department only after you have safely exited the house in case of a fire.

• Leave your house number visible: Post your house number clearly visible from the street so that fire engines and other emergency services can find your home quickly.

How do you check if the plan you made is working properly?

After you have made your plan and talked to everyone in your family, do these things to see if it works.

Do training twice a year

Have a ' fire drill' at least twice a year. Once during the day, once at night. Press the test button on your smoke alarm and sound the siren, or yell "Fire!" and act out your plan. Get everyone in the house involved. See if everyone can get out of the house in less than 2 minutes . If it takes longer, practice again.

Teach these things to children especially .

To get the children used to this plan, first practice during the day. Then, after they go to sleep, practice at night. But don't scare them, and say, "We're going to practice tonight" before they go to bed.

Also, it is very important to teach children these things:

• If you can't help, how to survive and get out on your own.
• Before opening a closed door, touch it with the back of your hand to see if it's hot.
• If the door is hot, it means there may be a fire on the other side. So you need to find another way out.
• When you exit, close the doors you are going through. This will slow the spread of the fire and give you more time to escape.

Get used to crawling under the smoke.

The thick smoke from a fire makes it difficult to breathe and see. Since smoke always rises, the best way to escape the smoke is to get down on your knees . During training, everyone should practice crawling along the ground to get out.

What do you do if you live in an apartment building?

If you live in a high-rise building, you should definitely include these things in your plan.

• Learn about the building's safety systems: Ask the manager about the building's fire alarms, sprinkler systems, and general escape plan.
• Find the stairs: Know where all the exits on your floor are. If one is blocked by smoke, you can use the other. Never use an elevator during a fire.
• Check exit doors: Make sure they are clearly marked 'Exit', blocked with objects, and locked.
• If you see a fire, sound the alarm: If you see a fire on your deck, sound the fire alarm before going out and alert others.

What to do if you get trapped in a fire?

You may be trapped in thick smoke or flames, blocking your exit. If you are trapped, do these things to protect yourself until the firefighters arrive.

• Close all doors between the room you are in and the fire.
• Seal gaps in doors and air vents with damp cloths or tape to stop smoke from entering.
• If possible, open a window in the room slightly, either up or down, to let in fresh air. But if smoke comes in, close it quickly.
• Call the emergency number immediately and tell them exactly where you are.
• Once the firefighters arrive, try to get their attention by waving a torch or a brightly colored piece of cloth out the window.

Fire hazard, fire fighting, safety, fire safety , evacuation plan, home safety , smoke alarm, smoke alarm, first aid