• Plan a home fire escape route and make sure everyone understands every square inch of it.

• Draw a floor plan of your home.

• Identify all doors, windows, halls and stairways that can be used to exit your home and include as part of your floor plan.*

• Determine all exit routes and keep them clear of obstructions such as furniture, toys, clutter, etc. at all times. Indicate these exit routes in your floor plan, as well.

• Ideally, every room should have two exits, with the primary one being the safest and fastest route to the outside. The secondary exit can be another doorway, stairway or window. Again, include these, clearly marked, in your fire escape” floor plan.”

• Practice, practice, practice! Hold family practice drills frequently – at least twice a year – until every family member “has it down.” Hold drills during the day while everybody is awake and at night while children are asleep to see how they will respond. Be sure to note if anyone in the family may need some help: a small child, an elderly person or a physically challenged family member, perhaps? Also, be sure to note if a child sleeps through the alarm and needs to be awakened by an adult. And finally, keep in mind that an infant will need to be carried to safety. Use blindfolds since fires emit thick, dark smoke making it impossible to see. Also, have everyone drop to the floor, keeping in mind that the freshest air lingers at the bottom of a room while heat, smoke and gases tend to rise.

• Finally, arrange for an agreed-upon place for family members to meet, once safely outside.

• Take your drill a step further: Purchase an escape ladder and teach family members how to use it.

• * This is an excellent habit to get into if you or a loved one travels frequently. Many a life has been saved during hotel or motel fires because travelers took just a few minutes to familiarize themselves with their surroundings and plan escape routes ahead of time.

• Be certain that every family member can quickly open door locks and window latches.

• Check to ensure that no window has been painted shut.

• If your home has security bars installed, make sure it has an operable, quick-release feature that everyone is familiar with.

• Stay close to the floor for the freshest, coolest air until you reach the door. Heat and smoke tend to rise.

• Place the back of your hand on doors to check for heat. If the door feels cool, open slowly. If it feels hot, keep it closed.

• If the primary exit is blocked by smoke or fire, close all doors between you and the smoke and use your secondary exit. (SEE PLAN ESCAPE STRATEGIES)

• If using a window for escape, DO NOT JUMP! Turn on the room’s lights, open the window and signal for help.

• Never, ever attempt to escape a fire using an elevator!

• Once you’ve made your escape, go to the designated meeting area for your family.

• Call 911 from a neighbor’s home.

• Inform arriving fire fighters as to whether or not everyone got out safely.

• DO NOT GO BACK INTO THE BURNING BUILDING. Let the professionally trained fire fighters do their job. They have the tools and know-how to search, rescue and extinguish the fire.