Preparedness - Emergency Family Plan

ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITIES

ESTABLISH ACCOUNTABILITY

ESTABLISH ESCAPE ROUTES AND MEETING PLACE OUTSIDE

REHEARSE YOUR FAMILY PLAN many, many, many times

THEN PUT YOUR PLAN ON PAPER


You might want to hang a whistle on your child's bedroom door to use only if there is a fire. It is easier to find a child by hearing a whistle instead of a little voice.






Organization and information to family members, helps everyone:
learn where supplies are located,
remember all escape routes,
learn utility turn off locations

Post the completed plan along with the check list where it can be used by family members, baby sitters and neighbors before and during emergencies.

*** sketch the floor plan of the place where you live

*** show a second way to exit from each room (show where chain ladder is stored for second floor exits)

*** make notations of areas where emergency food, water, first aid kit and fire extinguisher are stored.

*** mark location of gas, water (house and street) and electricity turn off, including wrench and other necessary tools

*** note safest place to be in each room during an emergency (earthquake, tornado, etc.)

*** locate hazards in your home and how they can be corrected



What To Do DURING A FIRE

1. Remain calm!!! Think through the consequences of all your actions.

2. Slowly head for the nearest exit.

3. Before opening any door feel the door with the back of your hand to see if it is hot. If it is, there is most likely a fire behind it, so do NOT open it.

4. If you see or smell smoke stay low to the floor. That is where the clear air will be because the heat and smoke will rise toward the top of the room.

5. If you are trapped in a room filled with smoke and there is water in the room, dampen (do NOT soak) a towel, cloth, shirt, etc., and place it over your mouth and nose. the damp cloth will act as an air filter.

6. Close all doors behind you to cut off air movement to the fire, but do NOT lock them. Someone else may need to use them.

7. If you are on the ground floor, try escaping through a window if all exits are unaccessible.

8. If you are trapped on an upper floor, do NOT try jumping out of a window. Rather, try to find something to use as a rope or lader, sucha as knotting bed sheets or blankets together.

9. Turn off fans, air-conditioners, heating and cooling units.

10. Do Not use elevators even if they appear to be working. Elevator shafts often act as chimney stacks for fires on lower floors.

11. If you think you can put out a small fire use what ever resources you might have on hand (ie. fire extinguishers, wet standpipes, water hoses, buckets of water or sand, blankets, water from a swimming pool or spa, etc.)