Fire Safety?
Does your family have a plan in case of fire?
Would your kids know what to do? Do you have a designated meeting spot if something happens?
Yes, we do. We will either go to the front or back door (whichever’s closer), and if either/both is blocked by flames or smoke we go out the nearest window. If we are on the second floor and cannot make it downstairs, we open the window (the window air conditioner will fall to the ground, about 15 feet) and then we will unroll the ladder to climb down (it’s right under the window).
Kids go out first, then adults, then pets. We do not go in for ANYTHING. All important documents and "memories" (other important personal things) are kept in a locked fire-resistant box that can be grabbed in an emergency, it’s under the bed.
Once each person is outside, they run to Ms. Moon’s house (our neighbor, the other house is vacant) and have either Ms. Moon or another adult call the fire department (she has all the information necessary, and we have hers in case something happens at either home). If we lose everything, so be it, as long as everyone is safe.
EDIT: I would much rather make one just in case something happens and never have to use it than wake up in the middle of the night to find the house in flames and choke in the smoke and not know where everyone else is.
Yes, we do. We will either go to the front or back door (whichever’s closer), and if either/both is blocked by flames or smoke we go out the nearest window. If we are on the second floor and cannot make it downstairs, we open the window (the window air conditioner will fall to the ground, about 15 feet) and then we will unroll the ladder to climb down (it’s right under the window).
Kids go out first, then adults, then pets. We do not go in for ANYTHING. All important documents and "memories" (other important personal things) are kept in a locked fire-resistant box that can be grabbed in an emergency, it’s under the bed.
Once each person is outside, they run to Ms. Moon’s house (our neighbor, the other house is vacant) and have either Ms. Moon or another adult call the fire department (she has all the information necessary, and we have hers in case something happens at either home). If we lose everything, so be it, as long as everyone is safe.
EDIT: I would much rather make one just in case something happens and never have to use it than wake up in the middle of the night to find the house in flames and choke in the smoke and not know where everyone else is.
References :
I never want to have to go through another one. One was horrible enough. We didn’t have a plan then, now we have one. It wasn’t a "bad" one, we saved the house and the main level and basement were okay (just some water damage so we had to replace the furniture and carpeting and appliances) but the upper level had more serious damage. Thankfully we had insurance and everything has been rebuilt and is fine.
My kids are older now, 28, 26, 23, and 10. I have been a licensed child care provider in my home for 20 years. We do have a plan for escape in case of fire for our family plus I also have a written and posted plan for fire, tornado, and serious accident/injury as required by my daycare license. We practice each one on a monthly basis. Our designated meeting spot is a huge willow tree (ever since Disney’s Pocahontas movie came out it has been "Grandmother Willow") in the middle of our front yard. Since we have older kids who live in other places now, in case of an emergency/disaster situation where we would be separated, we have a communication plan in place where we would all call my brother who lives in another state from us so he can be a sort of "clearing house" for where we all are and if we are OK.
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