Family Fire Safety

Be prepared to act quickly and safely in the event of a fire. Begin by gathering your family to develop an escape plan which everyone understands. Make sure to practice the plan.

• Remind everyone of the California fire and medical emergency number – 911.

• Plan two different exits for everyone: a normal route through a hall or stairway to use when fire isn’t blocking the exit and a second emergency escape route (usually out a window) when the normal route is blocked by fire.

• Always sleep with bedroom or hall doors closed. A closed door can keep out a fire long enough to allow escape through your emergency escape route. It may be hard for your children to get used to sleeping with the doors closed, but help them understand the reasons and assure them that you are still there to protect them. Parents of infants who worry that they won’t hear the baby cry if the doors are shut should consider buying a baby intercom system. These devices allow parents to hear the noises being made in the baby’s room.

• Install working smoke alarms on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Make sure to replace batteries at least once a year. Set off the smoke alarm to familiarize your children with the sound.

• Plan your emergency escape routes with care. Take any necessary steps – storing a rope ladder in a bedroom closet or keeping a baby carrier close to an infant’s bed – to make sure that you can actually use a planned route. Parents with young children may have to avoid a fire in a hall or stairwell by going out their emergency exit and entering the child’s room through that room’s emergency escape route. For example: go out the parents’ bedroom window, around the house and enter the child’s bedroom through a window.

• Don’t waste time getting dressed or gathering valuables in the event of a fire. Every second counts!

• Crawl to the door. Tell your children to crawl because smoke rises and the air will be fresher near the floor.

• Test doors before opening. Intense heat and deadly smoke may be on the other side. Are the door panels hot? Is smoke leaking in around the edges? If you suspect fire on the other side, DON’T OPEN THE DOOR. But if you think it’s safe, open the door slowly, just a crack. Brace your shoulder against the door, ready to slam it if heat and smoke rush in.

• Designate an outside meeting place to quickly check if everyone is safe – ONCE OUT, STAY OUT!

• Notify the Fire Department (911) quickly, as soon as everyone is out. Plan to use a neighbor’s phone. Speak slowly, plainly; give your name and address, then answer questions. Remember to escape first, then call the fire department.