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Fire Drills Save Lives:

 Fire Drill post it note

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires, and approximately 20,000 are injured. Deaths resulting from failed emergency escapes are avoidable if you know what to do.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that having a sound, well rehearsed fire escape plan will greatly reduce fire deaths and protect you if a fire occurs.

Fire Escape Planning At Work

Do you know what to do in case of fire? The right time to plan how to escape a fire is now - before it is too late. Do you know how to exit your building in the case of an emergency so that you will know how to get out alive?

Evacuation plans and fire reporting procedures vary from building to building. Please make certain you know the plans for your building. Usually, an alarm signals all occupants to leave the building immediately or to go temporarily to an "area of refuge". Plan NOW what to do… and then post fire emergency instructions conspicuously for all to see.

Of course you must use your judgment when a fire occurs and you should know where the two closest exits are located, as well as who your floor fire emergency officer is. Everyone is urged to participate in "DRY-RUN" fire drills.

Fire Escape Planning at Home:

Again, do you know what to do in case of fire? Have you talked with the members of your household about what to do when the smoke detector goes off? While it may not be necessary to post an evacuation plan in every room of your home, agreeing on what everyone should do and where everyone should meet should be practiced in a fire drill at least once a year.

October is fire safety month in most states and a great time to have a fire drill at home.

Ask yourself the following questions:

When was the last time my office participated in a fire drill?

When was the last time we did a fire drill at home?

Do I have a fire exit plan posted in my office?

Where are the nearest two exits?

Do I know where to go once I have exited building or house?

Who is the floor fire emergency officer?

If you don't have the answers to these questions you should take time to act now.

Contact your building supervisor to discuss the fire plans for your office and hold a family meeting to ensure the safety of your loved ones.

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