How To Develop a Home Fire Evacuation Plan

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

Fire is one of the most dangerous threats to any home. It's important to know how to evacuate your house in case of an emergency and have a plan in place if something goes wrong. Having an evacuation plan can save lives, including those of your pets and children. Here are some tips on how to develop a plan:

Know Your Emergency Exits

Know the best way to get out of your house when a fire erupts. Know how many exits there are in each room, and how to easily get out to the hallway and the outside.

Know Your Meeting Place

The meeting place should be a safe, nearby location where everyone in your group can gather. Designate specific locations following a fire so that you can be sure to meet up with all of your family and friends. Remember this is an emergency, so if someone does get separated from the group, they should report to their designated meeting place immediately.

Build a Disaster Supply Kit

Your kit should include:

• A working flashlight with spare batteries
• Bottled water and nonperishable food
• Special medications (if needed) in a waterproof container, such as a plastic bag or metal canister. 

Teach Your Kids What to Do and Practice

Teach your kids what to get low and go. Teach kids to drop to the floor, cover their heads with their hands and crawl toward the nearest exit. Practice this in a safe environment, such as at home when there's no danger of fire or in an empty classroom if you can get permission from your school.

Have you practiced the plan with your family? If not, it's time that you do. Make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency and practice using your family's home fire evacuation plan at least once a year. If some members of your family have special needs or access issues, consider practicing with them as well so that they can get out safely in case of a fire.

As with the rest of your family, you should include pets in your evacuation plan.

Special Considerations

If you have family members with disabilities, it’s important to consider their needs during an evacuation. People with mobility issues may need assistance getting out of the home, while those who require medical attention will need to make arrangements for their care.

Once everyone is safely outside, make sure that disabled people are not separated from their caregivers or friends. If possible, stay together as a group until everyone has been accounted for by firefighters or another emergency response team

There are steps you can take to ensure that you and others on your property stay safe from fire and other emergencies. By having a fire evacuation plan, you will be prepared for an emergency situation and know what to do if one occurs. If you experience a house fire, give SERVPRO of San Ramon a call! We will get your san Ramon home back to normal as quickly as possible.