Family Emergency Plans

10/21/2020 (Permalink)

Family Emergency Plans For Fires

Always Be Prepared And Have A Family Emergency Plan

Do you have a Family Emergency Plan for your Vermont home?

One of the most important parts of your family's emergency plan should include a Fire Escape Plan.

A Family Fire Escape Plan is crucial to have in place and for every member of the family to be familiar with, before a residential fire occurs.  According to experts, people have as little as 2 minutes to escape a burning building before it becomes impossible to get out.  Believe us… Every second counts!  In a matter of moments, a small flame can become a major fire, making it critical to be prepared and have an escape plan in place.

In a survey conducted by the American Red Cross, only 26% of families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.  Once a plan is developed, it is critical that everyone in the home understands the plan.  The best way to familiarize all family members with the plan is to practice it at least twice per year, especially if you have children.

The following steps can assist in developing and implementing a plan:

• Ensure that all smoke detectors work and have fresh batteries.
• Draw a map of each level of the home, showing all doors and windows.
• Consider escape ladders for second floor bedrooms.
• Choose an outside meeting place for when after you’ve all escaped.
• Teach children how to escape on their own.  Have them do so, until they can do so unaided.
• Practice the escape plan during both day and night hours.

SERVPRO of Burlington-Middlebury hopes that you and your family never have to experience the tragedy of a fire in your home.  In the event that it happens, we hope that an escape plan will help to keep your family safe.  If you do experience a fire please call your highly trained fire and water damage specialists at SERVPRO of Burlington-Middlebury to help make it “Like it never even happened.” (802)497-1101