JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- When smoke comes creeping down the hallway in one’s home, it feels like the moment to panic. Don’t.
A well-prepared home escape plan can ensure a safe exit in the event of a fire, according to Marcus Armstrong, fire protection inspector at the Fire Prevention Division at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Once the smoke alarm sounds, fire can rapidly spread through a building, which can leave as little as one or two minutes to escape safely, according to Armstrong. With advance planning and preparation, one can exit their house calmly and quickly.
Armstrong provided advice on how to create an effective fire escape plan below:
- Design a home escape plan with family members and loved ones by drawing a map of the home, showing all doors and windows.
- Discuss this plan with everyone who lives in the building.
- Each person in the home should know two ways out of every room, if possible.
- Ensure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
- Designate an outdoor meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone can meet, included in the plan.
- Practice a fire drill at least twice a year, once at night and during the day when everyone is home.
- Practice using different ways out and exit strategies as a backup plan.
- Teach children how to escape on their own, in case adults cannot help them.
- If smoke covers the home, get low and go under the smoke to escape.
- Once everyone exits the home, it is important that each person stays outside. There is no reason to go back into a burning building.
- If someone is missing, call the fire department dispatcher and inform them while outside.
With the correct planning, anyone can increase their chances to escape a fire safely.