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By Danny Cain 

Many home fire injuries and deaths are caused by smoke and toxic gases rather than by the fire itself. Proper planning and fire drills will allow you to be better prepared for such incidents. How prepared are you and your family members to escape in case of a real emergency?

This article will address the importance of having an emergency evacuation plan in place and the necessary measures that you should take in order to be prepared. Remember that it is just as important to practice a plan as it is to have a plan in place.

Emergency Evacuation Planning

If you are caring for someone who is memory impaired or disabled, special precautions and emergency planning may be necessary.

These persons may not have the mental or physical ability to recognize and respond to the dangers involved in such situations. Memory impaired individuals may even become startled or frightened from the sound of smoke detectors and may attempt to hide delaying critical moments to evacuate.

As a caregiver you may want to provide the person with a room on the ground level and near an exit. Be sure to contact your local fire department if you are storing canisters such as oxygen on your premise. These items are extremely combustible and can pose serious injury if ignited.

If you reside in a high rise or apartment complex you should be familiar with the location of the nearest fire exit. If the building is equipped with a metal fire-escape ladder, have the landlord or owner show you how to use it. You should also count the number of doors to the nearest exit should you need to evacuate in an emergency in a dark or smoke-filled hallway.

Never allow anyone, once outside, to go back into a burning building to retrieve personal belongings or pets. Caution should be made to closely monitor persons who are memory impaired. They may not realize the seriousness or danger of re-entry. Be sure to inform the emergency medical personnel of your loved one's condition.

If someone is trapped inside, immediately notify the Fire Professionals with the possible location of the missing individual. During an emergency, close all doors behind you as you exit to slow down the spread of fire and smoke.

In developing an emergency evacuation plan you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Has a thorough emergency evacuation plan been developed?
• Does the plan include two exit strategies for each room? (Don't include rooms that have permanent security bars on the windows unless they can be easily unlocked)
• Have you made special plans for caring for someone disabled or memory impaired?
• Are you plans practiced at least twice a year? (At least one in the dark)
• Are emergency numbers listed and readily available?
• Are second floor ladders equipped with ladders or other means of escape?
• Is the house number clearly visible for emergency personnel?

Caution: If you live in a building with an elevator, DO NOT use it during a fire!

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