Did you know?

• In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.
• According to an NFPA survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
• Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.

Plan Your Home Fire Escape

Tips For Your Fire Escape Plan

• Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place that does not move (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can't help them.
• Close doors behind you as you leave.

Practice Your Fire Escape Plan

Fires can start anywhere in the home and at any time, so run through the plan at different times of the day or night, and practice different ways out, twice a year.

1. Have kids go to their bedroom and wait for the drill to begin.
2. Put one adult in charge of sounding the smoke alarm and running the drill.
3. Sound the smoke alarm by pushing the test button and start a timer.
4. Once everyone gets to the safe meeting spot, stop the timer.

If you all made it in under two minutes, you each get an imaginary gold medal. If not, give it another try. In a real fire, get to the safe meeting place, then call 911 and keep everyone close until firefighters arrive.

If the alarm sounds...

• Get out and stay out! Never go back inside for people or pets.
• If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
• Call the fire department from outside your home.

Need more help with your escape plan? Download the resources below: