Include all possible emergency exits

Draw in all the doors, windows and stairways. This will

show you and your family all possible escape routes

at a glance. Include any features, such as the roof of

Choose a meeting place a safe distance from

your home that everyone will remember. A

tree, street light or a neighbour’s home are all

good choices. In case of fire, everyone will go

directly to this meeting place so they can be

accounted for.

if possible.

The door will be the main exit from each room. However,

if the door is blocked by smoke or fire, identify an

alternate escape route, which could be a window. Make

sure that all windows can open easily and that everyone

knows how to escape through them to safety. If windows

have security bars, equip them with quick-releasing

devices.

outside your home

Don’t waste valuable seconds calling the fire

department from inside your home. Once you

have safely escaped, call the fire department

from a cell phone or a neighbour’s home.

help to escape?

Review the plan with everyone in your

household. Walk through the escape

routes for each room with the entire family.

Use this walk-through exercise to check

your escape routes, making sure all exits

are practical and easy to use. Then hold a

fire drill twice a year and time how long it

takes. In a real fire, you must react without

hesitation as your escape routes may be

quickly blocked by smoke or flames.