Are you looking for activities to keep you and your child busy? Now is a perfect time to practice exit drills with your children. If you have not done one before, we have included some helpful links to help you get started.
The most important thing to remember is this is a family project. Children are already learning fire safety at school and may have already asked you for help with their plan. As a fire department, we have seen many occasions where parents have reported children trapped in a house, only to find them in their playset or at a neighbor’s house. They determined these locations to be their “meeting place” because the parents didn’t have time to help make this family plan together.
Practicing fire safety drills is just as important as practicing for a sport, band instruments, and studying for a science test. The more often you practice the faster and safer you and your family will be in an emergency.
One of the most frequently asked questions about Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H.) is, are my children too young to practice drills. The answer is no. There are lessons to be learned for you and your children in practicing these drills. Things like who and how are we going to get the baby or toddler. Practicing with children that are not of school-age helps them learn to stay calm and react quickly.
Another question is what to do about second story bedrooms and how to practice getting out the window with an emergency escape ladder. It is recommended that if you already have one to review the instructions. Trying to figure it out in a real emergency is not ideal. Also, take a moment and open your window. Make sure it is functioning correctly. You can find fire escape ladders at a hardware store or online.
In addition to practicing your fire drills, inspect your fire extinguishers. If you don’t have any now is an excellent time to think about where you would but them. You should have one in the kitchen and in any areas you may use as a workshop. You could also add one in your bedroom so that if you had to get to another part of your house, you could use it to protect yourself.
The most important thing to remember when thinking about fire safety is making sure you have working smoke detectors. With early warning exiting your home can be accomplished quickly and safely. Every second counts, so make sure you give yourself a head start by checking and installing smoke detectors in your home.
Resources:
Sparky’s Website – It has lots of games, activities, and videos for children.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – This one is more for the grownups. It is packed with lots of useful safety information.
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Preparedness/Escape-planning
Fire Safety Checklist for Homeowners and Renters
www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/fief/up_in_smoke_home_checklist.pdf
Choosing and using fire extinguishers
www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/extinguishers.html