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Plan
and Get Ready
E.D.I.T.H.
Exit Drills in the Home
Once a fire starts, it can spread rapidly. Halls and stairways
may become filled with
intense heat; poisonous gases and blinding smoke. Exits may be
blocked, trapping you
or your family. Protect your family by developing and practicing
exit drills in the home
starting today. Most fire deaths occur late at night while people
are sleeping, you should
practice your plan during the day and also practice one at night.
Everyone should know
exactly what to do if a fire occurs in your home.
Plan Your Escape
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Gather your family together to discuss your plan.
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Draw a floor plan of your entire house. Include the doors,
windows, stairs, halls, and
balconies.
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Show two ways out of every room. One exit is your primary
or normal route out of
your home. A secondary or emergency exit should be identified
in the event your
primary exit is blocked. You may need to include safety ladders
for second story
windows. Check at your local hardware store.
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Have a method of alerting the entire family when a fire is
detected. Every home
should have a working smoke detector.
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Plan a meeting place outside and away from the home. Make
sure everyone is
accounted for and that no one goes back into a burning house.
Once out, stay out!
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Call the fire department from a neighbor's phone.
Dial 9-1-1.
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Have every member in your family participate.
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Everyone should be in the bedroom with the door closed. A
closed door will hold
back deadly smoke and hot gases.
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Sound the smoke detector, to alert the family.
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Roll out of your bed and crawl on the floor to the door.
Remember smoke and heat
rises, stay low to the ground.
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Feel the door with the backside of your hand. Pretend it
feels hot. If hot, crawl to
your secondary emergency exit. Practice a second time and
pretend it feels cool. If
your door feels cool to the touch, brace your shoulder against
the door and open it
cautiously. If hot heat and smoke rush in, closed the door
immediately and go to
your emergency exit.
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Everyone should meet outside at the assigned family meeting
place.
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Discuss who will go the neighbor's house to use the phone
and call 9-1-1.
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Practice your plan at least twice a year.
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