Emergency Evacuation Plans

The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you establish an emergency evacuation plan to safeguard lives in the event of a fire or other emergency. Use the following steps as a guide.

Draw a floorplan of your home or business

On a clean sheet of paper, draw the walls, windows, doors, and stairs. Also draw any obstacles that a person may encounter while exiting the building such as large furniture or appliances.

Develop escape routes

Determine at least two routes the occupants in each room can take to safely escape. One route can be the most obvious such as the door. Another can be through a window that can be easily opened. If the window is high off the ground, an escape ladder should be provided. Draw arrows on the floorplan to show escape routes from each room.

Decide where to meet

Prearrange a meeting place outside and away from where emergency personnel are likely to be working. A neighbor's house or across the street in the front of the house are good locations. Always perform a head count to make sure all occupants safely exited. NEVER ENTER A BURNING BUILDING. If the head count shows one or more persons missing, give this information immediately to the authorities. Never enter a building to look for someone.

Practice your escape plans

Devising an escape plan is only the beginning, before the plan can be effective everyone should practice the escape routes from each room.

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First Floor

Second Floor

 

Fire Escape

 

Window Ladder

Building Front

Building Back

Early detection

The best way to survive a fire or other emergency is to get out early. The installation of a fire alarm system, with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in each room, can greatly decrease your risk of injury or loss.

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Master Lock XR20 Draw a floorplan of your home or business, Develop escape routes, Decide where to meet, Early detection