Plan Your Escape
Once a fire starts, it takes hold quickly and spreads even faster. A fire is frightening and it can be difficul to think straight, especially if your hall is filled with smoke and you’re worried about getting youand your family out.
On average, people can survive for less than five minutes in a smoke-filled room. Preparing and practising a plan of action will
help you to act quickly if there’s a fire – it could even save your life.
This section explains how to make an action plan for your home to make sure that everyone gets out safely.
Plan your escape together Discuss with everyone how you would get out if there were a fire. When
making your plan, take account of everyone in the household,
especially children and older or disabled 
people.
Talk through your escape plan, and regularly remind people what to do and what not to do – if there’s a fire. Put a reminder of what to do somewhere where it’s easily seen (for example, on the
fridge door or the kitchen notice board).
Choose an Escape Route
- The best escape route is usually your normal way in and out of your home.
- Think of any difficulties you or the other people in your household may have getting out.
- Choose a second escape route as well, in case the first one is blocked. Keep all escape routes clear.
- If there are children and older or disabled people in your household, plan how you will get them out and
the best order for you all to escape
Safe Room
- If you can’t escape you will need to find a room where you can wait for the Fire and Rescue Service.
This is particularly important if you have difficulty moving around or using the stairs. - If possible, your safe room should have a window which opens and a phone. Make sure everyone knows
where keys are kept - Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept and always keep them there. Everyone in
the household should know where the keys are kept.
Fire Equipment
- Fire extinguishers and fire blankets should only be used on a small fire in its early stages and by adults
who are absolutely sure they know how and when to use them. The first priority is to keep people safe
by getting them out of the building and calling the Fire and Rescue Service.
What to do in Case of Fire
Raise the Alarm
- If the smoke alarm goes off when you’re asleep, shout to wake everyone up, get everyone together,
follow your escape plan and get out of the building.
- Don’t stop to investigate the fire or to collect valuables or pets.
- Use your escape route to get everyoneout and meet at an agreed point.
- Close any doors which are open, and only open the doors you need to go through (this will help to stop
the fire from spreading so rapidly). - Check doors with the back of your hand. If a door is warm, don’t open it – the fire is on the other side.
- If there is a lot of smoke, crawl along the floor as the air will be cleanest there.
- Once you’ve got everyone out of the building, use a mobile phone, a neighbour’s phone or a phone
box to call 999. Give the emergency operator your name and address. - Don’t go back into the building for anything. If there is still someone inside, tell the Fire and Rescue
- Service when they arrive – they’ll be able to find the person quicker and more safely than you.
- Find somewhere safe to wait near the building, and give the Fire and Rescue Service as much information
as possible about the fire and the building
Escape From Window
- If you’re on the ground floor or first floor, you may be able to escape from a window. If you have to
break the window, cover the jagged glass with towels or thick bedding.
- Throw bedding out of the window to break your fall.
- Don’t jump out of the window – lower yourself down to arm’s length and drop to the ground.
- If you have any children, elderly or disabled people with you, plan the order you will escape in so thatyou can help them down.
If Your Escape Route is Blocked
- Get everyone into one room, preferably one with a window that opens
and that has a phone in it.
- Close the door and wait to be rescued.
- Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to seal the gap and to prevent smoke and fumes from getting
into the room.
- Open the window and stay near it for fresh air, and to let the firefighters see where you are.
- If you have a phone, call the Fire and Rescue Service. If you don’t have a phone, shout for FIRE so that someone else can phone for you.