E.D.I.T.H.

Plan Your Escape
*Draw a floor plan of your home. Show two ways out of each room. Discuss escape
routes with everyone in your home.
*Agree on a meeting place outside where everyone will gather once you've escaped.

Be Prepared
*Make sure everyone can clearly hear and recognize the sound of all smoke alarms at all
times. If you sleep with bedroom doors closed, have a qualified electrician install
interconnected smoke alarms in each room so that, when one sounds, they all sound.
*Some Studies have shown that some children may not awaken to the sound of the
smoke alarm. Know what your child will do before a fire occurs. For more information on
this issue, smoke alarms, and escape planning visit www.firesafetycouncil.com
*Have everyone in your home memorize the fire department's emergency phone number.
You should call from a neighbor's phone or a portable phone once you've escaped.
*Teach everyone in your household how to unlock and open all windows and doors.
*If your windows have security bars, equip them with quick release devices.
*Keep stairways and exits clear and free from clutter.

Install and Maintain Your Smoke Alarms
*Install smoke alarms on every level of your home - and outside all bedrooms. Consider
Installing smoke alarms with a "long life" (10 - year) Battery. These alarms must also be
tested once a month.
*Test your smoke alarms once a month
*Replace alarm batteries once a year.
*Replace any alarm that is more than 10 years old.

If You Live In a High-Rise Building….
*Your building's management should post and emergency evacuation on every floor.
*Your plan may instruct you to:
- leave immediately
- stay where you are and wait to be rescued, ot
- move to an area away from the fire and wait to be rescued.
*Follow instructions given over your building's public address system, if you have one.
*Keep a portable phone with you during a fire emergency.
*React immediately if you are trapped. Seal vents and cracks around doors with a wet
cloth. Call the fire department, tell them where you are and signal from a window with a
flashlight or light-colored cloth.
*Be patient; evacuation large buildings can take hours.
*Don not assume that you can, or will, be rescued from the roof.

If You Live In An Apartment Building…
*Learn and practice your building's evacuations plan.
*Know the location of all building exits and fire alarms.
*Leave immediately if you hear a smoke alarm.
*Take your key in case you can't escape and are forced to return to your apartment.
*Use the stairs - never use elevators during a fire.
*Do not go back inside once you've escaped a fire.
*Report any locked or blocked exits to your building's management.

Escape Tips
*Test the doorknob and spaces around the door with the back of your hand. If the door is
warm, try another escape route. If it's cool, open it slowly. Close it quickly if smoke pours
through.
*If you have to escape through smoke, crawl low on your hands and knees, keeping your
head one to two feet above the floor, where the air will be cleanest.
*Close doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Sprinklers Control Fires
*Consider installing automatic fire sprinkler system in your home. Sprinklers can control
or extinguish fires faster than it takes the fire department to arrive.