Tip 3: Make sure your family and guests staying for the festive period know what to do in an emergency - make a fire escape plan
Escape plans
Wherever you are, it’s important that you and your family know how to escape if there’s a fire. It doesn’t take long to make an escape plan and it could save lives, especially if you check and practice your plan regularly.
Think about:
- Who’s usually at home?
- How will they know there’s a fire?
- If there are children, who will help them?
- If there are elderly people, who will tell them there’s a fire and who’ll help them?
- If there are people who can’t see, hear or move around easily, who will help them?
- Where can you set up a safe meeting place away from the property?
Plan A – The first choice route of escape is always through the main door. Make sure you close it once everyone is out.
Plan B – If it’s not safe to leave by the main door, how else could you escape?
- Is there another door you could use or a fire escape?
- Could you climb out of a ground floor window?
- Could you climb out of a first-floor window onto a garage roof or extension and get down safely?
If Plan A or B are not safe, you might need to find somewhere to stay safe and await rescue. Make sure everything is ready so that you can:
- Go to a room with a phone and a window that opens
- Pack clothes and blankets around the door to keep smoke out
- Stay by the window and shout for help
- Practice your emergency escape plan together
Practising your plan in advance will help everyone to stay calm if there is a fire. It will also help you get to safety more quickly.
If you live in Scotland, request a free Home Fire Safety Visit; you’ll get advice on making an emergency plan and free smoke alarms fitted too.