Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.)
In addition to smoke alarms every home needs an evacuation plan. Children have twelve fire drills annually at school. Yet they spend more than two thirds of their day at home.
At a family meeting, sit down and draw a floor plan of the house. Figure out two ways out of every room in the house. Pay special attention to the evacuation of young children, older family members or those with special needs. Make sure to keep the hallways and doorways clear so you can use them in a hurry if you need them.
Pick a meeting place outside the house and away from the fire. Meet at a neighbor's house, at the end of the driveway, or in the yard away from the house.
Have everybody practice how to get out and meet at the designated place. Practice the escape routes during the day and in good weather. You may find that routes you thought would work won't. Once you get the escape routes worked out so that every one has a safe way out, have a fire drill. Remember that half of all home fires occur between 11PM and 7 AM. Make sure your drill reflects that.
After everyone is out of the house and at the appointed meeting place. Review the drill and make changes as needed.
Remember that smoke and heat rise. The smoke and heated gasses from the fire will collect at the ceiling and get thicker until they reach the floor. You need to crawl on your hands and knees and stay as low as possible because that is where the air is cleanest and coolest.
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