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Monday, January 5, 2009

Home Escape Plan

Determine the best escape routes from your home. Draw a floor plan of your home. Identify two escape routes from each room.

Establish a safe place in your area for your family to meet at in an emergency. For example, designate a certain spot in the local park to gather at, and should you have to leave your area, designate a relative or a friend's home as the gathering place. Be sure to include arrangements for any pets in these plans, since pets are not permitted in shelters and some hotels will not accept them.

Pick two places to meet:

  • One place near your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
  • One outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home. Everyone must know the address and phone number.

Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.

Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.

Take a Basic Red Cross First Aid and CPR training course. For more information, contact your local Red Cross office.

Keep a disaster supplies kit in your home. Whether you are asked to evacuate your home or to seal yourself inside for a period of time, having some essential supplies on hand will make you and your family more comfortable. Aim to have a kit that will keep you and your family self-sufficient in your home for at least three days. If you have a flashlight, a battery-operated or crank radio, food, water and blankets, you already have a good start. Keep a smaller kit in your car. A blanket, extra clothing, a candle in a deep can and matches can save your life.

Fire Escape Plan

  • Plan two escape routes out of each room.
  • Teach family members to stay low to the ground when escaping from a fire.
  • Teach family members never to open doors that are hot. In a fire, feel the bottom of the door with the palm of your hand. If it is hot, do not open the door. Find another way out.
  • Install smoke detectors. Clean and test smoke detectors once a month. Change batteries at least once a year.
  • Keep a whistle in each bedroom to awaken household members in case of fire.
  • Check electrical outlets. Do not overload outlets.
  • Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type). Have a collapsible ladder on each upper floor of your house.
  • Consider installing home sprinklers.

Practice and maintain your plan:

  • Quiz your children every six months.
  • Conduct fire and emergency evacuations.
  • Replace stored water in your disaster supplies kit every six months.
  • Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's instructions.
  • Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.

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