If a fire breaks out in your home, you may only have minutes to get out safely once your smoke alarm sounds. It is important that families take the time to create a Home Fire Escape Plan to make sure everyone in the home knows where to go if there is a fire. Reviewing these plans with your children or loved ones can make getting out the house during an emergency more organized and safer. Here are some easy steps to get a plan started:

• Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all of the doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
• Know at least two ways out of every room. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
• Create a meeting place outside of your home (tree, mailbox, light pole, etc.). Make sure the meeting place is in the front yard and a safe distance from the home.
• Make sure to practice your home fire drills during the day and at night. Do this at least twice a year.
• Practice using different ways out of the house. You never know what area might be effected by a fire.
• Close the doors behind you as you leave.
• Get out and stay out. Never go back inside.

If you do find yourself in a house fire, remember these fire safety tips!

• Stay Low! Fire and toxic smoke rise, and the areas closest to the ground have the best opportunities for sustaining life.
• Check doors with the back of your hand to feel for heat and fire outside of your door. If the door feels hot, find another way out of the room.
• If your clothes catch fire, remember Stop, Drop, and Roll while covering your face. Doing this will help to smother and put out the fire.
• If you are unable to exit the room or you are trapped, go to the window and attempt to get the attention of someone outside. Call 911 and give them your location.
• Follow the Fire Escape plan you created with your family.
• Always call 911, but never call from inside your home

Develop your own home escape plan. For more information visit www.sparky.org.