E.D.I.T.H.

It's your strategy for a safe exit from your home during a fire emergency.

How likely is it that a fire could occur in your home? Each year in Maryland there are more than 9,000 residential fires. As a result of these fires, more than 80 people are killed and hundreds of others are injured.

What ingredients make up an effective escape plan? A careful escape plan begins with careful preparation, proper placeement of smoke detectors and regular Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H.).

Hopefully you will never have a fire in your home. However, should a fire occur, your safety and that of youur family will depend on calm, rational actions of the occupants. Exit drills in the home and a carefully designed escape plan can be the key to a safe escape.

How To Design a Fire Escape Plan

Planning ahead provides numerous benefits. Advanced planning will ensure that you are ready for any fire emergency and can provide you and your loved ones peace of mind.

To design your own fire escape plan, sketch the floor plan of your home on a piece of paper. Indicate on the plan all doors, windows and other areas from which you could escape from each room in your home.

Draw arrows to indicate the normal exits which would be your primary escape route. With an alternate color, draw arrows to indicate a secondary exit from each room in the home.

Choose a location outside the home where family members should meet once they have safely escaped. A neighbor's front yard or sidewalk may be an ideal meeting place.

Note the emergency number to call to report a fire. In Maryland, the emergency number is "911" to contact police, fire or rescue units.

If you need help in designing your plan or if you would like to have your plan reviewed, contact your local fire department or the Office of the State Fire Marshal for assistance. After completion of the floor plan, take the time to discuss the following important points with family members.

• Location of smoke detectors. In Maryland all residents are required to have at least one operating smoke detector. The number of detectors you need, and their location, depends upon the layout of your home. There should be one smoke detector located near sleeping areas. It is also a good idea to have at least onne detector on each level of your home. In all homes built after July 1, 1975, these detectors must be electrically operated. In all new homes built after January 1, 1989, smoke detectors which are electrically operated and interconnected, to sound an audible alarm throughout the house, must be installed on each occupiable level, including the basement.
• Reporting a Fire. Everyone should know the location of telephones in the home and where to find a telephone outside of the home. It is very important that children also know the "911" phone number in order to report a fire or other emergency incidents to authorities.

Hold Exit Drills In The Home Regularly

Your fire escape plan may look great on paper, but does it really work? Regular exit drills in the home will allow you to test the plan and make adjustments as may be needed. When practicing your exit drills in the home, remember to use alternate escape routes as well. Children should be closely supervised during drills in the home and no one should take unnecessary chances.

Planning for Special Needs

Some people face greater risks during a fire emergency as they may have special needs. This would include individuals who are mentally or physically handicapped. Persons with special needs should sleep in a bedroom near someone who can help in the event of an emergency. A physically handicapped person may require a sleeping area on the ground floor. Designing a special escape plan will depend on the abilities of the person.

Exit Drills In The Home can help people to prepare for an emergency. Most home fires begin between the hours fo midnight and 6:00 a.m. This is a time when most people are least prepared. In the middle of the night, fire can be a disaster if you and your family are not familiar with how to escape during an emergency.

So, to protect yourself and your family, remember these tips:

• Prepare a fire escape plan.
• Install and Maintain smoke detectors.
• Practice Exit Drills In The Home regularly.
• Examine your home for fire hazards and take steps to prevent a fire before it occurs.