Most of us believe home fire safety means being very careful with gas and electric appliances and installing smoke alarms. If we have a fireplace, we are sure to install a fireplace screen. While these steps are, of course, very important, to be as safe as possible, experts in fire prevention, insurance, and disaster assistance all recommend we add the most important factor of all: planning and practicing for an evacuation when the alarm goes off.
At New Canaan Pediatrics, we know that a home disaster and fire escape plan ensures that your children – and you – know what to do, when to do it, and where to go should something go wrong and your alarms start beeping.
The sooner you’re alerted to smoke or fire in your home, the better chance your family has of getting out quickly and safely. The American Red Cross recommends smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors be installed on every floor of a home, outside any sleeping areas as well as inside every bedroom. Experts estimate that fires can block exits in about two minutes, and properly installed and tested alarms give you as much of that time as possible to get to safety. Fire prevention experts recommend testing alarms monthly.
You should then plan and practice together what to do if those alarms get triggered.
Parents should discuss and clearly determine who is responsible for getting infants or toddlers to safety. Children should never be responsible for the safety of anyone else in the family.
Experts recommend that everyone in the home have two ways to get out of their rooms in an emergency. With your family, go into each room in your home and discuss the fastest and safest exit – and then practice exiting from each room. Identify an immovable meeting place outside your home, such as a home down the street, where your family can gather after they’ve left the house. Remind your family that emergency personnel may give instructions that conflict with your plan and they must always follow those new instructions.
Make sure family members know to call 9-1-1 when they are in a safe space. There should also be an emergency contact your family should call when they get to safety, such as a neighbor or extended family member who are aware of their role.
Remember, all these plans are only as good as your family’s ability to execute them, so FEMA recommends families practice their plan twice a year.
If having a fire drill in your home feels awkward, remember that children grow up quickly and revisiting your escape plan regularly allows you to keep them safe at every stage of their lives. Fire moves fast—again, you have about 2 minutes to get out of your home. Practicing your plan regularly means you won’t get caught off-guard by an unexpected change, like a window or door that is stuck, or furniture that has been moved. These semi-annual fire drills also give you an opportunity to remind everyone in your family to stay low when escaping smoke, to check doors for heat, and to stop, drop, and roll if your clothing catches fire. While practicing exiting your home, remind your children to stay out of the house until emergency personnel gives them the all-clear to return.
Make sure your smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and are in tip top working order. If you haven’t planned what to do when an alarm goes off, develop a plan today. Finally, if you haven’t practiced that plan in the last 6 months, get out your stopwatch and run a fire drill now.
When you have questions about your child’s safety, message your New Canaan Pediatrics provider through your patient portal. We are always happy to help!