Installation Guide

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Develop and Practice a Plan of Escape
Prepare and practice a home escape plan twice a year, including drills at night.
Know two ways out of every room (door & window) and identify a meeting place
outside the home where everyone will gather once they have exited the residence.
When two people have reached the meeting place, one should leave to call 911
while the second person stays to account for additional family members. Establish a
rule that once you’re out, you never re-enter under any circumstance!
• Make a floor plan indicating all doors and windows and at least two (2) escape
routes from each room. Stories above ground level may need a rope or chain
ladder.
• Have a family meeting and discuss your escape plan, showing everyone what
to do in case of fire and where to meet after they leave the house.
• Ensure that small children hear the alarm and wake when it sounds. They must
wake up in order to execute the escape plan. Practice allows all occupants to
test your plan before an emergency. You may not be able to reach your chil-
dren. It is important they know what to do.
• Familiarize everyone with the sounds of the smoke alarm and train them to leave
your home when they hear it.
• Current studies have shown smoke alarms may not awaken all sleeping
individuals, and that it is the responsibility of individuals in the household that
are capable of assisting others to provide assistance to those who may not
be awakened by the alarm sound, or to those who may be incapable of safely
evacuating the area unassisted.
• Install and maintain fire extinguishers on every level of the home and in the
kitchen, basement and garage. Know how to use a fire extinguisher prior to an
emergency.