Plan Your Escape
- Make a step-by step fire escape plan “Two Ways to Leave Each Room” in your home. A main escape and an alternate route are important in case one route is blocked.
- Keep a flashlight and a whistle within reach to light your path and to use as signal for help.
- Agree on a meeting place away from the house.
- Make sure kids know how to open all windows and doors.
- Know your fire department phone number.
- Know your street address and phone number.
- Have your Adult practice reporting a fire from the telephone.
- Practice your escape route frequently with the entire family until it becomes second nature.
- The fire department is always available to assist you and answer any questions you may have.
When a Fire Occurs
- Follow your escape route.
- Do not stop to call for help or to call for pets.
- If your clothes catch on fire, you should STOP, DROP and ROLL.
- Crawl under any smoke and don’t stand up. Remember smoke rises.
- If a door is warm, do not open it. If smoke is coming through the bottom of your door, take a sheet or towel to cover the crack to keep smoke from coming in.
- You should have a rope or ladder available in case you have to escape out of a window for safety.
- Use your whistle to alert the family and your flashlight for signaling for help; always yell out fire for neighbors or others to hear.
- Once you are outside, go immediately to your meeting place. Do not go back inside! Count heads, and if someone is missing, tell a firefighter.
- Remind your parents to make sure that you check the batteries in your smoke detectors monthly.
- Keep the Fire Department’s phone number close to all you telephones.
Be Smart! Be Safe!