Planning your escape

Planning an Escape

An attitude of "it will never happen to me" could cost you your life. Think about what you would do if a fire did break out in your home - how would you get out if the main entrance was blocked? Does everyone know where the keys are kept? Some simple steps could ensure you don't become another victim.

• Plan your escape together
• Choose an escape route
• Creating a safe room
• Where are the keys kept?
• Keep your guests safe from fire
• Escaping from a high rise building

If you are worried or not sure how to pan an escape, DO NOT worry help is always at hand the fire and rescue service will help you make you plan, free of charge. Here

Plan your escape together

• Discuss with everyone how you would get out if there were a fire. When making your plan, take account of everyone in the household, especially children and older or disabled people.
• Talk through your escape plan, and regularly remind people what to do - and what not to do - if there's a fire.
• Put a reminder of what to do somewhere where it's easily seen (for example, on the fridge door or the kitchen notice board).

Choose an escape route

• The best escape route is usually your normal way in and out of your home. Think of any difficulties you or the other people in your household may have getting out.
• Choose a second escape route as well, in case the first one is blocked. Keep all escape routes clear.
• If there are children and older or disabled people in your household, plan how you will get them out and the best order for you all to escape.

Creating a safe room

• If you can't escape you will need to find a room where you can wait for the Fire & Rescue Service. This is particularly important if you have difficulty moving around or using the stairs.
• If possible, your safe room should have a window which opens and a phone.
• If there is no phone lean out of the window and shout keep drawing attention to yourself. It is important that fire-fighters know where you are.
• Break the window if it is locked or you can’t open it, by striking it with a heavy object in the corner of the glass.
• Only escape from a window if you are in immediate danger from fire.
• Put bedding or clothes at the bottom of the door to stop the smoke coming in.
• If you have to escape from your safe room try to hang down from the window at full arms length and drop to the ground.
• If If there are two adults, then one should drop first to enable the children to be lowered before being dropped, don't jump.
• If you are escaping from a upper bedroom throw out the mattress or bedding to help cushion the landing.

Where are the keys kept ?

• Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept and always keep them there.
• Everyone in the household should know where the keys are kept.
• Do not leave your keys in the door lock for an easy escape, we do find ourselves in a society where this is not practical due to theft and break in.

Keep your guests Safe from fire

Your family or housemates may be familiar with your house or flat, but your guests may not be. If you have guests staying overnight:

• tell them where the keys are kept.
• give them information about anything in the house they may not be familiar with, like how to unlock your front door.

Escaping from a High Rise Building

Living above the first floor doesn't necessarily make you any more at risk from fire. High-rise flats are built to be fire-proof – walls, ceilings and doors will hold back flames and smoke.
Most of your planning should be the same as homes at ground level, but there are some key differences:

• you won’t be able to use the lift if there’s a fire, so choose an escape route that takes this into account
• count how many doors there are on the route to get to the stairs when you can’t use the lift, in case you can’t find your way
• make sure stairways and fire escapes are kept clear of all obstructions and that fire doors are never locked
• regularly check that you can open the doors to stairways or escapes from both sides

If there's a fire elsewhere in the building, you are usually safest in your own flat, unless heat or smoke is affecting you. If you are affected, you should get out, stay out and call 999.