A disaster can strike without warning. If a fire, emergency, or severe weather were to occur, does your family have an emergency plan in place? If not, we’re going to help you with creating an emergency family plan.
Gather the Family
The first part of making a family emergency plan is to gather all your family members together. Walk through your house and inspect all windows and doors as possible escape routes and emergency exits. Once you’ve figured out the best escape route, move on to the next step.
Sketch a Map
Creating a map of the home and all emergency exits is a great way to visualize how to get out of the house safely during a stressful situation. This is especially useful if you have children. On the map, have your kids help you mark all the doors and windows and where the escape routes are. Including your children in the mapmaking process can help them feel involved and experience less panic if a fire or emergency happens. Don’t forget to include an outside meeting spot where everyone should meet if they get separated.
Assign Evacuation Responsibilities
Assigning roles to each family member ensures they all understand the family emergency plan. All responsibilities will be taken care of. Who is responsible for getting the children out safely? Who will call the fire department? If you have pets, who is responsible for getting them out safely? Assigning one or two roles for each person before an emergency can help everyone take responsibility and ensure everyone gets out quickly and safely.
Display the Family Emergency Plan
Now that you’ve made your map and everyone has their roles in place display the emergency plan in a visible spot in the home, like on the refrigerator or near the front door. Include a list of all emergency contacts, including the fire and police department and any family members you need to notify. If your kids are old enough, have them memorize these numbers so they can call the right person no matter where they are.
Practice Regular Fire/Emergency Drills
With a plan in place, it’s essential to practice regular fire drills. Whether you do this monthly or quarterly is up to you. Make sure all exits are clear and easily accessible at all times. Have every family member complete their task and meet at the designated location. If you have two floors, make sure there is a safety ladder near a window and practice setting up the ladder to make sure you can do it quickly. Ensure your plan includes an escape route from each floor if an emergency happens while everyone is sleeping.
Ask Friends and Family
Now that you’ve created a family emergency plan ask your friends and family if they have one. If not, encourage them to make one and share it with their families. Tell visitors about your emergency family plan, so they are aware in case something happens while they are in your home. Have your kids ask their friends what their family emergency plan is so your kids can stay safe in an emergency away from home. If they don’t have one, offer to help them make one.
What Happens After a Fire?
Having a fire in your home can be devastating. Still, with a family emergency plan in place, you can ensure your family’s safety if something were to happen. At Allied Restoration in Gambrills, Maryland, we are licensed, bonded, insured, ready, and waiting to restore your home after a fire or other emergency. Call us today to determine why Allied Restoration is an excellent choice for your fire and water remediation needs.
Allied Restoration is an IICRC (Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), Certified Firm. Our Senior Project Manager, Wilma Fogler, was the first person in the State of Maryland to achieve the IICRC Master Water Restorer Certification. Allied is Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. 