It’s something you want to have but never have to use – a fire safety plan.
Firefighters said you need to know how to quickly get out of a burning home because every minute matters.
It’s as simple as having a pen and paper. You draw out your floor plan and find multiple exit paths. Once you have it drawn out, practice because you want to know what to do without even thinking if your house were to be on fire.
Growing up, most kids have fire drills at school. Experts said your family needs to have them too.
”You want to be able to get out without putting too much thought into it,” Todd Dunn from Charlotte County Fire and EMS said in a previous interview.
Starting young, teaching kids fire safety can help save lives. While knowing what to do to prevent a fire is good, knowing what to do if one starts is essential.
”You want to be able to know exactly how to get out, you want to have alternative plans in case your main way out is blocked by the fire,” Dunn said.
Keep exit paths clear. Have a designated meeting spot. Do a headcount. Most importantly, once you’re out, stay out.
“I am a pet owner, pet lover absolutely understand. Here’s what I am going to tell you,” DeSoto County Fire Chief Chad Jorgensen said. “Statistically speaking, more people die in fires that have already made it out and go back in for some reason. Many times it’s to try to rescue a pet.”
Another important reminder, check those smoke alarms, firefighters want you to replace them every ten years. The average time to get out of your house safely is two minutes so those smoke detectors are important tools.
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