| If a fire breaks out in your home or workplace, you may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Photo courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association |
Fermilab wants its employees and users to be safe at home as well as at work. That’s why we want you to be prepared to handle a house fire.
According to a National Fire Protection Agency survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan, and even then many underestimate the amount of time they have to escape. When polled, one-third of Americans said they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often far less. Only eight percent of people said that their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out.
Here are some safety tips to improve your preparedness:
- Make a home escape plan.
- Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows.
- Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
- Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible.
- Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily.
- Have an outside meeting place (such as a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet.
- Practice your fire drill twice a year, both at night and during the day, with everyone in your home.
- Practice using different ways out.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Close doors behind you as you leave.
- If the alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets.
- If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to get out.
- Call the fire department from outside your home.
National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 9 through Oct. 15. Make your plan and practice it.
—J.B. Dawson