How to update your fire escape plan | PEMCO

Add “practice family fire escape plan” to your upcoming spring to-do list. This advice comes from safety experts who note that while many of us know how to replace our smoke detector batteries, few go the extra step to make sure all family members understand how to get out of the house safely when seconds count. 

What to do to escape a fire: 

1. Find two ways out of every room (if you live in a single family dwelling) in case fire or smoke blocks your usual exit path. That means, without help, all but very young family members should be able to unlatch a window, remove the screen, and crawl out to safety, whether that’s to the ground from a first-floor window or onto a safe, relatively flat rooftop or drop-down fire ladder from a second-story window. 

2. Go to a designated safe meeting place so you can account for all family members. The mailbox or a nearby streetlight are good choices. 

3. Call 9-1-1 once you’re safely out. 

How can you stay safer in an emergency? 

4. Sleep with the bedroom door closed. It buys precious seconds to escape if there’s fire or smoke in the hallway. 

5. Crawl rather than walk out of a smoky fire. There’s more breathable air near the floor. 

6. Use the stairs, not the elevator, to escape your apartment or condo. A fire could knock out power to the elevator, leaving you trapped, or the elevator could fill with smoke or even open onto the fire. 

7. Never go back into a burning house to retrieve possessions. The only truly irreplaceable thing is human life. 

8. Make sure your house number is visible. Unless smoke is already billowing, that will help firefighters find your home faster. 

Taking a few minutes now to walk through these steps with your family can make all the difference when every second counts. A practiced fire escape plan turns confusion into confidence and gives everyone — kids and adults alike — a clear path to safety. Add it to your spring to‑do list, review it regularly, and keep the conversation going. Preparation is simple, fast, and one of the most meaningful ways to practice prevention and protect the people you love.