Be a fire prevention hero: plan your escape route

October 6 to 12 is Fire Prevention Week. This year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has chosen the theme: Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape! This campaign is designed to educate people about the small but important steps they can take to stay safe in the event of a fire.

Ensure smoke alarms work
The first step in escaping a fire is being alerted to it. There should be smoke alarms on each level of your house and one in each bedroom. Test your alarms monthly to make sure they work.

Make an evacuation plan
If a building is burning, you may only have two minutes to evacuate the premises once the fire alarm sounds. Planning your escape route and practicing it with everyone who lives in your home could save lives. Here’s how to create an evacuation plan with your family.

• Draw the layout of your home and identify two ways out of each room.

• Ensure that evacuation routes remain clear at all times and that all family members can access them.

• Pick two meeting places: one just outside your home and another that’s further afoot but still in the vicinity. This is where your family will gather in case of a fire.

• Make sure everyone knows how to call 911 or emergency services from a cellphone or a neighbor’s phone.

Having an evacuation plan can mean the difference between life and death. This year, be a fire prevention hero and work with your family to create a fire safety plan. For more information about fire safety and Fire Prevention Week, visit fpw.org.