Good Safety Habits - Kidde 20SA10-V User Manual

15. Good Safety Habits

Develop and Practice a Plan of Escape
Prepare and practice a home escape plan twice a year, including drills at night. Know two ways out
of every room (door & window) and identify a meeting place outside the home where everyone will
gather once they have exited the residence. When two people have reached the meeting place, one
should leave to call 911 while the second person stays to account for additional family members. Estab-
lish a rule that once you're out, you never re-enter under any circumstance!
• Make a floor plan indicating all doors and windows and at least two (2) escape routes from each
room. Stories above ground level may need a rope or chain ladder.
• Have a family meeting and discuss your escape plan, showing everyone what to do in case of fire
and where to meet after they leave the house.
• Ensure that small children hear the alarm and wake when it sounds. They must wake up in order to
execute the escape plan. Practice allows all occupants to test your plan before an emergency. You
may not be able to reach your children. It is important they know what to do.
• Familiarize everyone with the sounds of the smoke alarm and train them to leave your home when
they hear it.
• Current studies have shown smoke alarms may not awaken all sleeping individuals, and that it is
the responsibility of individuals in the household that are capable of assisting others to provide
assistance to those who may not be awakened by the alarm sound, or to those who may be inca-
pable of safely evacuating the area unassisted.
• Install and maintain fire extinguishers on every level of the home and in the kitchen, basement and
garage. Know how to use a fire extinguisher prior to an emergency.
24