Draw a map of your house and plan at least two escape routes out of every room.“Windows
and indoor and outdoor doorways
are all possibilities,” says Chris Reynolds, a fire chief and a professor of
public-sector and critical-infrastructure studies at the American Military University, in Tampa. Discuss these routes with every family member.
Place at least one preassembled, flame-resistant safety escape ladder near a window
on each floor of your home. Try the Kidde Escape ladder ($40, www.safetyproductsunlimited.com). A 13-foot ladder should
be long enough for a two-story home. If bedrooms are on opposite ends of a floor, store
a ladder in each room.
Pick an outdoor meeting
place that’s a safe distance from your house. A neighbor’s mailbox or the nearest stop sign are
good options.
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the street. Emergency-aid vehicles need
to be able to locate your home
as fast as possible.
