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Seven people die every day in house fires, according to an April 2013 report from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA studied home fires over a five-year period and found that one in every 320 households experienced a fire resulting in 2,570 deaths and 13,210 injuries. Property damage exceeded $7 billion. In spite of these statistics, just over one quarter of U.S. families surveyed by the American Red Cross have a home fire escape plan in place. The Red Cross also says its response rate to home fires increased by 10% from 2000 to 2010. Draw Up a Plan with Your Entire Household NFPA suggests gathering the entire household to make a fire escape plan. It’s always a good idea for everyone to voice their concerns and make suggestions during the planning stage. Take these steps: 1. Walk through the home and identify and inspect all doors and windows large enough for a person to get through. Make sure they can be unlocked and opened quickly from the inside. 2. Identify two ways out of each room. 3. Identify escape routes. Make sure these routes are clear of obstacles. 4. Draw out a floor plan for each level of your house. NFPA has a link to a sample plan on its site. Mark where you have smoke detectors. 5. Make sure who will need help getting out of the house (infants/children, people with disabilities) have a buddy to help them. If possible, do this for family pets as well. 6. Decide on a meeting spot away from the house. This can be a neighbor’s home or some marker in the neighborhood such as a stop sign. Do a Dry Run of Your Fire Escape Plan It may seem goofy, but a dry run on a regular basis is a really good idea. Take turns timing each other in simulated escapes, starting with when a home fire alarm would sound off. Have some fun with this by trying different scenarios: • Asleep in bed • In the shower/bathroom • Watching TV, at the computer, etc. You might be surprised how long it can take to make a fast getaway, particularly if you are responsible for another person or a pet. Second-Story and High Rise Fire Considerations Both the Red Cross and NFPA urge people who live in two-story homes to consider purchasing fire escape ladders for each occupied room above the ground floor. Talk to your alarm company for recommendations about what to look for in a ladder. People who live higher up than the second floor and in high rise apartments should also have an escape plan. Fire codes vary among municipalities, but most apartments will have a fire escape or an indoor egress staircase. The staircases are more common in newer buildings, which are also likely to have indoor sprinklers as well. Work with Your Smoke Detector NFPA says that 43% of home fires are cooking-related and responsible for nearly 40% of fire-related injury. Homes with no smoke alarms or inoperative alarms are the scene of almost two-thirds of fatal house fires. Install smoke detectors and check them regularly; at least twice each year. Don’t disable them because they go off when you’re cooking. Instead, move your smoke detector further away from the oven or stove.
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