Fire can spread quickly, leaving as little as one or two minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Every year in the United States, there are more than 350,000 home fires, resulting in over 2,500 deaths. A fire can be a huge loss, but does not have to mean a loss of life. A Safe Escape Plan can make all the difference. Be sure your family knows what to do if a fire strikes.
How much of a difference can a plan make?
A house fire is not bright; it is pitch black. If you have practiced an exit plan many times, you will automatically know what to do - even in dark smoke.
Children tend to panic in a fire. A common reaction is to hide from the flames. Children who know how to escape, won’t lose their life hiding in a closet or under the bed.
Children under the age of 5 are twice as likely to die in a fire. Plan in advance to help young children escape and make their odds of survival higher.
Elderly and disabled family members may need assistance or special accommodations to escape a fire. With a good plan, a person can help them escape, or other preventative measures can be taken to help them escape themselves.