Emergency Evacuation
Establish and regularly practice a plan of escape in the event of fire. The following steps are recommended by the National Fire Protection Association:
1.Position your detector or your interior and/or exterior sounders so that they can be heard by all occupants.
2.Determine two means of escape from each room. One path of escape should lead to the door that permits normal exit from the building. The other should be an alternate escape route such as a window, to be used if your normal exit path is impassable. Station an escape ladder at such windows if there is a long drop to the ground.
3.Sketch a floor plan of the building. Show windows, doors, stairs, and rooftops that can be used to escape. Indicate escape routes for each room. Keep these routes free from obstruction and post copies of the escape routes in every room.
4.Assure that all bedroom doors are shut while you are asleep. This will prevent deadly smoke from entering while you escape.
5.Try the door. If the door is hot, check your alternate escape route. If the door is cool, open it cautiously. Be prepared to slam the door if smoke or heat rushes in.
6.Where smoke is present, crawl on the ground; do not walk upright. Smoke rises and may overcome you. Clearer air is near the floor.
7.Escape quickly; don't panic.
8.Establish a common meeting place outdoors, away from your house, where everyone can meet and then take steps to contact the authorities and account for those missing. Choose someone to assure that nobody returns to the house — many die going back.
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