Creating a Fire Escape Plan

By: Jessica Del Llano

Photo Credit: Eric Sciacca

On the evening of Saturday, January 5, a fire ripped through Building 4 of the Woodcrest Condomiums in Chelmsford. Two lives were lost, several more people were injured, and twenty-five other families were displaced. Having something like this happen so close to home, has made me stop and think about helping my family create a plan for a tragedy like this. I didn’t even know where to begin. My daughter, Sara, is only 3 ½. I hardly expect her to be resourceful, calm, or collected should a fire break out in our home. She’d need our help to get to safety, but that doesn’t mean we can’t begin introducing an escape plan to her, or at least give her some reassurance that we have a plan in place for her. A quick internet search led me to the following tips, which I thought I’d share with all of you. As scary as it is to imagine, it’s something important that we, as parents, can do to help ensure our family’s safety.

1. Develop a fire escape plan. What do you want your children to do if your house catches on fire? Where should they go? Make these decisions ahead of time so you will have a fire escape plan in place to teach your children.
2. Write down your fire escape plan. Writing down your fire escape plan defines what your family’s fire escape plan is. Visitors and babysitters will have access to the plan. As your children learn to read, they will be able to read over the fire escape plan as well.
3. Set aside time to teach your children the fire escape plan. Hold a family meeting with all family members who live in your house.
4. Tell your children what you expect them to do. Define what they should do step-by-step. They should first touch the door to see if it is hot. If the door is hot, they should stand by the window and wave a shirt. If the door is not hot, they should walk outside through the nearest door and go to a predefined location, such as the mailbox or a neighbor’s house.
5. Tell your children what not to do. Your children should not deviate from the fire plan. They may not run, collect pets, pick up toys or go looking for their parents or siblings.
6. Activate the smoke detector. Let your children hear what a smoke detector sounds like. Tell your children to follow the fire escape plan whenever they hear the smoke detector.
7. Walk your children through the fire escape plan. Work individually with each child. Show him what to do. Then, follow along as he shows you what to do. When your child seems to have mastered the fire escape plan, have him teach his fire escape plan to a sibling or friend.
8. Hold periodic fire drills. Every few months, hold a fire drill. If your children forget what they are supposed to do, show them the fire escape plan again and verbally repeat the plan. Then, walk them through the fire escape plan until they do everything right.

Sources:

• http://www.ehow.com/how_2283600_teach-children-fire-escape-plans.html#ixzz2IGTBFrcL
• http://www.usfa.fema.gov/campaigns/usfaparents/escape/

For anyone wishing to contribute to the Woodcrest Condominum relief efforts as these residents begin rebuilding their lives, please visit the community Facebook page.