Exit Plan and Addresses

• Sleep with your bedroom door closed. In the event of fire, it helps to hold back heat and smoke.
• While kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up and touch the door, the knob, and the space between the door and its frame with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, use another route. If the door is cool, open it with caution.
• Crawl low under smoke. Smoke contains deadly gases, and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner air will be near the floor. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor.

• If your bedroom is located on the second floor it is important to have an escape ladder to exit window if needed. Easy-to-use window escape ladders are available through many catalogs and outlet stores.
• Agree on a fixed location out-of-doors where family members are to gather for a head count.
• Stay together away from the fire. Call 911 from another location. Make certain that no one goes back inside the burning building.
• Check corridors and stairways to make sure they are free of obstructions and combustibles.
• To help cut down on the need for an emergency exit in the first place, clear all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, and closets.

• If your house has a double cylinder deadbolt on an exterior door, make sure the key is easily accessible. Even though it seems like a good security measure it can create a potentially deadly situation.
• Be sure your children understand they should never hide in the house during a fire.

It isn't enough to talk about your escape plan, practice evacuation with the whole family. Set off the smoke alarm so everyone knows what it sounds like. Practice crawling to an exit.