Home Fire Drills

Be Prepared

• Make sure everyone can clearly hear and recognize the sound of all smoke alarms at all times.
• Studies have shown that some children may not waken to the sound of the smoke alarms. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs.
• Once you have escaped use a neighbors phone or a portable phone to call 911.
• Teach everyone in your household how to unlock and open all windows and doors.
• If your windows have security bars, equip them with quick-release devices.
• Keep stairways and exits clear and free from clutter.

Install & Maintain Your Smoke Alarms

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. For the best protection install interconnected smoke alarms in each bedroom and throughout the home. When 1 sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms once a month and replace their batteries twice a year. An easy way to remember to change your batteries is when the seasonal times spring forward or fall back its time to change your batteries.
• Replace any alarm that's more than 10 years old.
• Install smoke alarms with strobe lights for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Multi-Story Buildings

• Your building's management should post an emergency evacuation plan on every floor. Make sure people with disabilities are included in escape planning and practice.
• Your plan may instruct you to:
  • Leave immediately.
  • Stay where you are and wait to be rescued.
  • Move to an area away from the fire and wait to be rescued.
• Follow instructions given over your building's public address system, if you have one.
• Keep a portable phone with you during a fire emergency.
• React immediately if you are trapped. Seal vents and cracks around doors with a wet cloth.
• Do not assume that you can or will be rescued from the roof.
• Learn and practice your building's evacuation plan.
• Know the location of all the buildings exits and fire alarms.
• Report any locked or blocked exits to your building's management.
• If you hear the smoke alarm, leave immediately.
• Use the stairs, never use elevators, during a fire.
• Do not go back inside once you've escaped a fire.

Escape Tips

• Feel the door. If the door is hot, use your 2nd way out. If it's cool, open it slowly. Close it quickly if smoke pours through.
• If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.
• Close doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.