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the Fire Department
E.D.I.T.H.
(Exit
Drills In The Home)
How
would you and your family get out of your home if there were
a fire? How would they escape from the second or third
floor of your home? What would you do after everyone
was out of the house?
A
careful escape plan begins with careful preparation, proper
placement of smoke detectors, and regular EDITH (Exit Drills
In The Home) practice. We hope you will never have a
fire in your home, however, should a fire occur, your safety,
and that of your entire family will depend upon your calm
reaction. Exit drills in the home and a carefully designed
escape plan can be the key to everyone getting out safely!
Making
An Escape Plan
Planning
now, before an emergency, will ensure that you are ready and
can provide you and your loved ones with peace of mind.
To design your fire escape plan:
Sketch
the floor plan of your home on a piece of paper. This
drawing should clearly show all doors, windows, and other
ways out from each room in your house.
Draw red
arrows to show the normal exits that can be used as
a primary escape route.
Now draw blue
arrows to show secondary exits from each room in the home.
Finally,
choose a safe location outside where your family members can
meet once they have safely escaped. A large tree in
your front yard, the mailbox, or sidewalk are ideal meeting
places. Once everyone is accounted for, send someone
to a neighbors home to call 911.
After
you complete your sketch, sit down with your family and discuss
it with them. If you need help in designing your plan,
or if you would like to have your plan reviewed, email the
Fire Codes Enforcement
& Prevention Division for assistance.
Now
that you have completed your fire escape plan, its time to
test it out. Regular exit drills in the home will allow
you to test the plan and make adjustments as they are needed.
When practicing your plan, remember to use both the primary
and alternate escape routes from each room. Children
should be closely supervised by their parents when practicing
EDITH and no one should take unnecessary risks.
Sometimes
people have special needs that place them at greater risk
during a fire emergency. This would include individuals
who are physically or mentally handicapped. Persons
with special needs should sleep in a bedroom near someone
who can help in the event of an emergency, preferably on a
ground floor.
Exit
Drills In The Home
Drills
are the key to being prepared to act fast in the event of
a fire emergency in your home. For more information
on EDITH, visit the National
Fire Protection Agency's website.
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