JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
It’s the middle of the night. Suddenly, a beeping sound awakens you and your family. With smoke quickly filling the home, you have to make a decision to get out.
Planning ahead is the key to any successful escape plan. You have only minutes to get everyone out safely if a fire breaks out. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go in case of a fire.
A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire. Install smoke alarms inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
According to a National Fire Protection Association survey, only one of every three American households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. While 71 percent of Americans have only an escape plan in case of a fire, only 47 percent of those have actually practiced it.
One-third of American households thought they would have at least six minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only eight percent said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out.
Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Then discuss the plan with everyone in your home.
After making an escape plan, do the following:
· 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 (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) a safe distance from home where everyone should meet.
· Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.
· 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 smoke 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 your way out. Call the fire department from outside your home.
For more information about escape plan, visit the National Fire Prevention Association website at http://www.nfpa.org/education. People can also contact the Joint Base San Antonio fire prevention offices at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston at 210-221-2727, at JBSA-Lackland at 210-671-2921, or JBSA-Randolph at 210-652-6915.