There is no point waiting until a fire occurs before figuring out what to do and where to go – especially when family members are involved. Having interconnected smoke detectors installed along with a well developed and rehearsed home fire escape plan will provide loved ones with crucial time to escape, and could certainly mean the difference between life and death. This blog post shows how to develop a home fire escape plan and demonstrates that it needn’t be an onerous task.
Develop a home fire escape plan and install interconnected smoke detectors for maximum safety
Develop A Floor Plan And Identify The Emergency Exit Path
The objective of a home fire escape plan is to provide the occupants of a dwelling with sufficient knowledge and skill to escape a burning building in an efficient and timely manner. This is achieved by:
a) documenting the required information,
b) communicating the information, and then;
c) practicing the home fire escape plan.
The first step in developing a home fire escape plan is to draw a basic floor plan/map of your house, including key locations such as each person’s bedroom. Review the floor plan collectively with all occupants of the dwelling – identify both the primary and secondary paths of exit so there are two means of escape for each person in the event of a fire. Some things to consider – are there obstacles to negotiate, such as large furniture?
Are there ‘landmarks’ along the way which could assist if smoke has reduced visibility to zero? Are there people in the home of differing ages, mental acuity, or reduced physical mobility? If so, it may be worth assigning a specific ‘buddy’ to assist these people.
Ensure your interconnected smoke detectors are placed throughout the house and properly tested to alert everyone promptly in case of fire. Finally, nominate an agreed muster point where everyone is to gather at a safe distance after evacuating the building. Practicing your plan ensures everyone can safely evacuate when it matters most. an agreed muster point where everyone is to gather at a safe distance having evacuated the building.
Interconnected smoke detectors go hand in hand with the home fire escape plan
Practice The Home Fire Escape Plan
It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s another thing to actually do it. As the famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov once said, “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.” Rehearse the home fire escape plan and physically practice an escape with ALL members of the household, at least bi-annually.
During the rehearsal, a mobile phone timer could be used to create a sense of urgency, while reduced visibility due to thick smoke can be simulated by placing a blindfold on the occupant and having them attempt to navigate the exit path in a controlled manner. Ensure your interconnected smoke detectors are tested during rehearsals to guarantee they’re functioning properly.
Once outside the building, everyone should assemble at the fire safety plan’s designated muster point and perform an after-action review to identify any learnings and/or improvement opportunities. Time taken to escape the building can be recorded and used as a performance benchmark for future rehearsals, helping you continuously improve your plan for maximum safety and efficiency.
Interconnected Smoke Detectors
And The Home Fire Escape Plan
Because ZEN interconnected smoke detectors provide greater early warning and response time to a fire, they should be installed within your home and form part of the overall home fire escape plan. Ensure photoelectric interconnected smoke detectors are installed in every bedroom, communal hallway outside the bedrooms and if in a multi-story dwelling then at least one on every floor.
During the rehearsal of the home fire escape plan, test the interconnected smoke detectors so all actually activate, and everyone becomes acquainted with their sound and meaning. This helps reinforce awareness and ensures that every household member (including pets), reacts appropriately. Doing so may help lessen the sense of surprise or shock in a real-life fire event, allowing for a faster and more composed evacuation. It is particularly important for young children, who may not immediately associate the sound of an interconnected smoke detector with danger, to become familiar with the alarm and understand the need to respond immediately.
Fire Safety Essentials Within The Home Fire Escape Plan
Rehearsing your home fire escape plan is a great opportunity to impart some basic fire safety essentials. You may wish to document the following information in your home fire escape plan and ensure it is understood by all:
- Immediately phone triple zero 000 for Australian emergency services, including the fire department.
- Stay low to the ground to minimize inhaling toxic smoke and fumes, which generally rise.
- Prior to opening a door, test it using the back of the hand to ascertain if there is heat on the other side.
- Close doors (but don’t lock) as you pass through them to limit air supply and possible expansion of the fire.
- Ensure your interconnected smoke detectors are placed correctly and tested, so they provide early alerts throughout the home.
- Once outside at the designated muster point, perform a headcount. Do not head back inside the burning building for any reason.
By practicing these steps regularly, you can ensure everyone is prepared and safety-focused in the event of a fire emergency.
Conclusion
An effective home fire escape plan should be specific to each dwelling, and the occupants should be intimately familiar with it. Review the home fire escape plan twice a year and rehearse escaping from the building so that knowledge is put into practice. Ensure ZEN interconnected smoke detectors are included in your plan and test these during the practice run to ensure they provide timely alerts.
Basic fire safety essentials should also be added to the home fire escape plan, such as staying low to avoid smoke inhalation and checking doors for heat before opening. Practicing these steps regularly will increase the opportunity for your loved ones to successfully escape a burning home in a real-life emergency event, with the help of interconnected smoke detectors ensuring everyone is alerted in time.
Want to know more? Watch our ZEN Smoke Alarm YouTube channel or call us on 0478 596 402 today
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ZEN Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
New Farm, QLD, 4005
