| Today many families enjoy a two story home | | | | during a fire certain areas cannot be accessed |
| for more space on a smaller lot especially given | | | | because of the danger from fire & smoke; if the |
| the consistent rise in real estate prices for the | | | | emergency equipment is behind a blocked area |
| past 10 years. Multistory buildings are a fantastic | | | | then escape can become daunting if not |
| way to get more home for your money on a | | | | impossible. Families with young children are even |
| land parcel in the city suburbs. One thing many | | | | more susceptible since most young children will |
| homeowners overlook is having proper safety | | | | not jump from a window that is more than a few |
| equipment such as a fire escape ladder on the | | | | feet off the ground; much less one that is twelve |
| second floor. | | | | feet high. A fire extinguisher is just as important |
| Escape ladders are not the only item that gets | | | | since you may need to put out a certain area of |
| forgotten when it comes to second floor safety. | | | | flames just to buy time to get out. It is unlikely |
| It is good to have an emergency preparedness | | | | you will be able to save your home with a fire |
| kit on every floor of a home in case an | | | | extinguisher once the fire is a large blaze but at |
| emergency cuts off access to a particular area of | | | | least you can get out safe. |
| the house. What happens when a fire breaks | | | | It is also a good idea to show everyone in the |
| out but the fire is blocking the path to the fire | | | | family how to use the escape ladder and |
| extinguisher, emergency lights and escape | | | | extinguisher once a year. You forget how to do |
| ladder? More often than not it leads to injury or | | | | things when you have not done them in a while |
| death that could have been prevented with | | | | and this is magnified during an emergency when |
| proper planning. Break out a pen and paper to | | | | people usually panic. Practicing once a year |
| write down what you are missing in your | | | | lowering the fire escape ladder & going down it is |
| emergency preparedness plan. | | | | a great way to bring some calm should an |
| First you want to ensure there are fire escape | | | | emergency arise. It is best to just demonstrate |
| ladders, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, | | | | how to use a fire extinguisher without actually |
| smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in | | | | using it since they can be expensive to replace |
| every room people sleep. All of these items | | | | and a mess to clean up. |
| should also be on every floor of a multistory | | | | Family emergency preparedness is a simple |
| building also except for an escape ladder on the | | | | concept that can be fully utilized with just 30 |
| first floor. Which is still a good idea for a backup | | | | minutes a year. Make a checklist of the rooms |
| ladder in case of an emergency. Also remember | | | | and what should be in each room, test each item |
| to check and test each item at least once a year | | | | and verify it is working every 6 months. Get |
| but it is recommended you test twice a year. A | | | | the family together every year to go over the |
| good time to do this is when you change the time | | | | escape plan and remind everyone where the |
| for daylight savings time in the spring and fall or | | | | emergency equipment is located and how to |
| during spring and fall cleaning. | | | | operate. Following these simple steps will keep |
| Countless lives have been saved by having a fire | | | | your family calm during an emergency and result |
| escape ladder in an upstairs room when a fire | | | | in a safer escape should the time ever arise. |
| breaks out in the middle of the night. Usually | | | | |