Fire Escape Plan

Preparing and practicing a plan of action will help you to act quickly if there is a fire. Everyone who lives, or is staying in your home should know this plan, and it helps to go through it with your family or anyone else that lives or stays with you including children, older people and lodgers. 

• If a fire starts the priority is to get everyone out and call 112. Don’t try to fight a fire yourself.

• Choose an escape route. The best route is usually the normal way in and out of your home. Think of any difficulties you or the other people in your household may have and prepare for these.

• Choose a second escape route as well and keep both these routes clear. Remember - if you live on a ground floor, a window could be used as an escape route.

• Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Look for anything that might slow your exit and try to remove those blockages. Check that all windows and doors can be opened easily.

• Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox) a safe distance from your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.

• If there are infants, older adults, or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the event of an emergency. Assign a backup person too, in case the designee is not home during the emergency.

• Put a reminder of what to do on the fridge door or notice board.

• Make sure everyone knows where the keys to doors and windows are kept.

• Tell guests or visitors to your home about your family's fire escape plan.

• Plan the order that you will escape in, so that if you have to go out of a window you can help others out (ground and first floor only).

• Choose a safe room. If you can’t escape you will need to find a room where you can wait for the Fire Brigade. A safe room should have a window and a telephone.

REMEMBER

Be fully prepared for a real fire. When a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately.

Once you're out, stay out!

Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the emergency services. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.