Home Fire Escape Planning

​In the moments of a home fire, you’ll probably be scared and disoriented. However, every household member needs to act quickly and must know what to do and where to go when the smoke alarm sounds. Take a small amount of time to have a family meeting and create a home fire escape plan keeping in mind the following essential pointers.

Create a Basic Floor Map
Draw a floor plan of your home. Use your map to determine the location of all possible exits and escape routes in the event of a fire. Inspect the rooms and mark two potential exists for each if possible, including doors, windows, and stairways which can be potential escape routes. Sift through each of them for possible obstacles.
 
As such, windows with security bars must be equipped with quick-releasing devices. Note also the location of all smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Make your floor plan direct and simple, then discuss it with the rest of the family members.
 
Select an Outdoor Meeting Stop
Choose a rendezvous that is a safe distance away from your home that all household members can easily find. A mailbox, stone wall, light pole or a tree are all good choices. Once you have safely escaped, call the fire department immediately. Remember to always to keep a list of emergency hotlines on your phone to be ready in unforeseen events.
 
Practice Your Escape Plan
Discuss the emergency escape plan with your family. Walk around the house and inspect the escape routes for each room with all members of the household. Make sure that children understand the primary escape routes and any backup routes entirely. Take time to hold a fire drill every six months and time how long it takes. In a real fire, one must leave the house within one or two minutes from the time the smoke alarm sounds.
 
Your ability to escape depends on the warning from smoke alarms and efficient escape planning. Do your family a great favor and spend the time to create your home fire escape plan now. Being prepared and ready is essential to keep yourself and your family safe from fire accidents.
 
It is also better to invest on home insurance that covers your house against damages caused by fire. At Insurance Services of the West, we aim to make our client's life easier with policies that are tailored to their needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (425) 681-0996. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.