Why is home fire escape planning important?
Fire creates thick, black smoke and deadly gases that make it hard to see or breathe. And because fire can grow and spread very fast, you may have just a few minutes to escape. A home fire escape plan makes sure everyone in your home knows exactly what to do in a fire so you can escape quickly and safely.
 
What do I do if I'm trapped in a room by fire?
There are several steps you can take if you become trapped in a room by fire. But before I tell you what they are, you first need to know how to avoid becoming trapped. First, make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, and in or near all sleeping areas. (Working smoke alarms will let you know there's a fire, and will give you enough time to escape quickly and safely.) Then develop a home fire escape plan so you use that time wisely. A home fire escape plan includes the following:

• Two exits from each room in your home. The first exit is usually a door, and second is usually a window.
• Escape routes from all exits to the outside.
• A meeting place outside where everyone will meet.
• The fire department's emergency phone number, which should be memorized and called from a nearby or neighbor's phone.
• Practice, practice, practice! Your home fire escape plan should be practiced with all members of your family at least twice a year. When practicing your plan, pretend some exits are blocked to figure out how you'd use all your exits.

In a fire, you should always try to use your first exit. If you see smoke, try your second exit. If you must go through smoke to escape, crawl low on your hands and knees under the smoke where the air is cleaner and cooler. If you follow the steps above, you should be able to escape a fire without becoming trapped. But if you do become trapped in a room, you can take the following steps:

• Close all doors between you and the fire.
• Seal all the door cracks and vents where smoke could enter using wet towels, duct tape, linens, or clothing.
• Telephone the fire department (even if firefighters are already on scene) and tell them where you are. You can also signal to firefighters for help with a light cloth.
• If possible, open the window at the top and bottom, but be prepared to shut the window immediately in case smoke blows in.

Courtesy of Sparky.org

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