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Fire Escape Planning
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Basic Floor Layout: Draw a floor plan of your ground or upper floor bedrooms with two escape routes from each room. Just something simple, doesn’t have to be a work of art. |
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Inspect the Rooms: Go to each room and identify the best window for an emergency escape. Test the windows or screens to see that they work easily and are large and low enough to use. |
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Draw the Escape Plan:
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Instructions for the Family
Explain the Fire Escape procedures to your family.
Remember these important points:
| Point 1 Always sleep with your bedroom or hall door closed. It can keep out fire long enough to allow you to get out through your emergency escape route which might be a window. |
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| Point 2 Make certain that a smoke alarm is installed and operating properly in the hallway outside bedrooms. It is also a good idea that smoke alarms are placed inside bedrooms where the door is kept closed at night. This is to protect against the advent of fire starting inside the bedroom. |
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| Point 3 Don't waste valuable time getting dressed or gathering valuables. Precious seconds can count in a fire. |
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| Point 4 Check that the door is not hot before opening. Intense heat and deadly smoke can be on the other side. |
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| Point 5 Have an outside meeting place to quickly check if everyone is safe. Once out of the house. |
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| Point 6 Notify your neighbour to call 000 |
How to Practice the Fire Escape
1. Everyone is in his/her bedroom (doors closed).
2. Test your smoke alarm to sound the alarm.
3. Everyone swings into action - out of bed, to the door.
4. Carefully test door before opening.
| First Drill: Escape through normal exit (hall or stairway). |
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| Second Drill: Imagine doors are hot and the hall is blocked by fire. Now everyone must test his emergency escape exit. Depending on age and capability, you need not actually go out on the roof, but be sure everyone can open windows, screens easily, and position emergency escape ladder quickly. |
