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Your home is supposed to be a safe place. To make it safe, you take certain common sense precautions. Before bed, you lock up the doors and windows. The garage door isn’t left open overnight. When you go on vacation, you make sure the mail doesn’t pile up and create a telltale sign for burglars. But when it comes to staying safe in the event of a fire, you need to do better than a fire escape. You need a plan.

Yesterday, we shared some suggestions with you regarding the creation of a fire safety plan for your home. Fires can start at home for reasons as simple as a cooking accident or a malfunctioning electrical system. When they start, they can move fast, and you need to be ready in case of an emergency. Read on for more tips to create a smart fire safety plan.

• If there’s a fire, you definitely should call 911. However, the time to make a phone call is after everyone has evacuated the house and gone to a safe space. Young children should be taught how to make this call, and they need to know their address and phone number.
• If you have a larger family that includes babies, small children, or older family members, it’s a smart idea to give one person the job of helping those people out during an emergency. During an evacuation, speed is a necessity, but some people simply can’t move fast and will need assistance.
• During an evacuation, if a door handle feels hot to the touch, or a door is open and you can feel the heat, don’t touch it. A fire might be on the other side of the door. In a situation like this, use your secondary escape route.
• During an emergency, being burnt by fire isn’t the only thing to worry about. Toxic smoke inhalation is an issue that’s just as serious, and far more insidious. Teach children that, if they see or smell smoke, to crawl on the ground to reduce the chances of impairing their breathing.
• If you’ve made it out of the house during a fire, the temptation is extremely strong to want to go back in if another family member, pet, or beloved heirloom is still inside. We completely understand, but doing this not only puts you at risk but reduces the odds of a successful rescue. Firefighters have the tools, protection, and extensive training to undertake a rescue. If someone is still inside, let the operator know when you call 911.
• Part of preparing for a real fire is the understanding that the drill needs to be taken seriously. Let children hear what the smoke alarm sounds like, and instruct them that when they hear that particular noise, they need to get out of the house fast. When practicing fire drills, perform them during the day and at night. This teaches children that an emergency can happen at any time. Remember that you don’t want your children to be scared, you want them to be prepared and ready.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 1,240,000 fires were reported in 2013. Of those fires, 3,240 people died, 15,925 people sustained injuries, and damages occurred valued at $11.5 billion. That’s a lot of homes and businesses that require repairs, a lot of recoveries, and a lot of lives lost.

At Americana Fence, installing and repairing fire escape stairs is one of our specialties. That’s because fire safety is both a passion and a priority for us. When a fire starts, it can spread with terrifying speed. Whether it starts at home or work, you may only have a few minutes to escape when the smoke alarm sounds. Having a plan in place is a wise move, so please use these simple tips for setting up an escape plan that’s simple and effective.

• In order to develop a smart escape plan, you’ll need a map of your home or office. This map should clearly show where doors, windows, and stairways are located. You’ll need to discuss the plan and practice it with family members or employees. During a fire, the situation can be frightening and disorienting. But when the escape routes are walked repeatedly, the memory can help to save lives. At home, practice the escape routes during the day and at night.
• Speaking of escape routes, if at all possible, make sure there are at least 2 different ways out of any room or area. If you have doors or windows that open to the outdoor, it’s imperative that they open smoothly and easily.
• Is the number of your home or place of business clearly visible and legible from the road? If not, take the time to either paint the number on the curb or install large numbers that are easy to read. The last thing you need during an emergency is firefighters arriving late because they couldn’t find the place.
• Once everyone has successfully evacuated the business, it’s important to do a headcount. Agree on a meeting spot that’s outside and is a safe distance away from the building.
• Once the smoke alarm starts sounding, it’s important to get out and stay out. Going back into a burning building for people, pets, or personal property is foolhardy at best. Instead, when you call 911 from outside, let the operator know that people are missing. Firefighters have the equipment and the training to handle rescues, and they will be much more effective than you will be.
• During a fire, never use the elevator to get to the ground floor. Always use stairs instead. If people in your home or office have problems with climbing stairs, factor this information into your escape plan.
• Obviously, your safest escape route is the one with the least amount of heat and smoke. Smoke is highly toxic and can be very dangerous. However, be ready to escape underneath smoke if necessary. Practice heading for the exits by staying as low as possible.
• If your home or business has multiple floors, you’ll need a way to escape from the outside of the building at the upper floors. By installing escape ladders at an easily accessible location, such as near a window, you can ensure you have another way out if the interior of the building is impassable.

At Americana, a big part of our business is safety. We’re proud to install and service fire escape stairs for both homes and offices. But the problem is, some people have a fire escape installed, then they think that’s the end of it. It isn’t, because when a fire hits, it can create an environment that’s terrifying and disorienting.

Within 30 seconds, a small flame can become a serious fire, and, it can spread throughout a home in less than 2 minutes. Since fire can move quickly, you need to be ready. When it comes to home fire safety, the smartest thing you can do for your family and yourself is to develop a fire safety plan. Read on for a few tips for developing a home fire safety plan that works for you and your loved ones.

• Developing a plan is a job for the entire family. Get everyone involved so that they know to take the project seriously. Start by walking through the house and keep an eye out for all exits and escape routes. If any of these routes have any obstructions, such as toys or furniture, make sure to clear them. Check your windows to make sure they open up smoothly and easily.
• It’s worth it to draw a map of your home that features all of the doors and windows. You can either use graphing paper and a ruler, or a little bit of research online will direct you to free sites where you can draw out a grid on your computer.
• Ideally, every room or area in your home should have 2 escape routes, those being a door or a window. For rooms on a second floor, consider buying collapsible escape ladders and store them in a close-by and convenient location. If you have a room like a half-bathroom that only has one entrance, try to figure out where the nearest escape route is beyond that single door.
• Smoke alarms are critically important in keeping your family safe. Make sure you have one installed in each sleeping room, just outside the sleeping area, and on every floor. Interconnected systems are available that will have all of the alarms sound if one is triggered. A great habit to get into is to change the batteries of all the smoke detectors every year.
• A plan is useless if every member of the family doesn’t understand it. Every six months or so, run a practice fire drill. Through repetition, your family will begin to instinctively understand what to do, so that in the event of a real emergency, they will operate on training and instincts.
• Remember that an important facet of your plan is accounting for everyone. Agree on a meeting spot that’s outdoors and is a safe distance from the house. This could be anything from the sidewalk across the street to a neighbor’s house. Just make sure everyone understands where to go. To reduce confusion, make a note of your safe spot on the map of your home.