How To Prepare Your Family For A Fire

Fire in your home can cause devastation and loss of life.

In the event of a fire:

• Get out.
• Call 999 or 112 and ask for the fire service to come out
• Stay out.

If you or your child catch fire
If you or your child catch fire, do the ‘stop, drop and roll’ drill.

You should:

• stop what you’re doing
• get on the ground and roll.
• Allow the ground and not a person’s hands to suffocate the fire.

A fire blanket can also be used by placing it over you and then do the ‘stop, drop and roll’.

Preparing for a fire emergency
You can prevent fire from harming you and your family.

1. Install working smoke alarms and heat detectors – test them at least once a week.
2. Make a fire escape plan and practice it often.
3. Check for fire hazards in your home and either remove them or be aware of them.
4. Carry out a ‘last thing at night routine’ every night, such as close all interior doors and unplug electrical items.

Fire escape plan
A fire escape plan is a plan for what you need to do if there is a fire in your home.

Make the plan with everyone in your home. Practice it regularly.

Put the plan into action when your fire or smoke alarm goes off.

Your fire escape plan should include:

1. Keep corridors, halls, doors and windows clear at all times.
2. Raise the alarm. Wake everyone up and get everyone out the quickest way.
3. Check doors with the back of your hand – don’t open them if they are warm. This means the fire is on the other side.
4. Only open the doors that you need to get out of the house.
5. If there is smoke, crawl along near to the floor where the air will be cleaner.
6. Do not look for the cause of the fire.
7. Meet at an assembly point outside your home and make sure everyone is out.
8. Call the fire brigade on 112 or 999 from a mobile phone or neighbour’s home.
9. Do not go back into your home until the fire brigade tells you it is safe.

Fire extinguishers and fire blankets can be useful if fire breaks out in your home.

If you have them, make sure:

• you know how to use them
• they are easy to get at

Important
Only try to put out a fire yourself if it is safe to do so.

Last thing at night routine
Before you go to bed at night you should carry out a ‘last thing at night’ routine.

Your last thing at night check-list could include:

• Check that your exits and hallways are clear before you go to bed.
• Close all interior doors.
• If you need a key for your front and back door, make sure that the keys are kept close to the doors in an accessible place, known to everyone in the home.
• Make sure fires are out or nearly out at night. Put fire guards in front of open fires.
• Do not leave your television, radio or music system on standby.
• Only appliances designed for 24 hour use should be left plugged in at night-time. For example, fridges and freezers.
• Plug out the mobile phone charger when you go out or when you go to bed.
• Switch off and plug out your electric blanket before you go to sleep.
• Empty ashtrays properly and put out candles.
• Make sure gas appliances are turned off.