How to Create a Fire Evacuation Plan The last thing most of us expect in the safety of our own homes is an unforeseen and extreme event like a, We see events like this on TV, or hear about them third-person, and think it can never happen to us. In fact, these types of events are more common than you may think as there were 365,500 house fires in 2015 1, according to the,
Plan for everyone. Take into account the special needs of everyone in your household, including young children and elderly family members who may not be very mobile. Children don’t always wake when a smoke alarm sounds. Make sure someone is assigned to help them, and choose a backup person in case the assigned person is away at the time of the fire. Find two ways out. Visit each room of your house and find two ways out, including windows and doors. Make sure all open easily so you can get outside, and install emergency release devices on any security bars on doors or windows. Involve children in planning. Consider having your children help create a fire evacuation plan 2, Draw a map of the home and have children mark two exit routes and the locations of smoke detectors. Choose a meeting spot. Decide on a meeting place outside, such as a neighbor’s house, mailbox or stop sign. It should be in the front of the house so emergency responders can see you when they arrive. Agree not to go back into the house after you leave. Check smoke alarms. Check that smoke detectors are properly placed and working. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing them in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping room and on every level of the home.3 Be visible. Make sure that your house number can be seen quickly from the street by emergency responders. Respond quickly. Make sure everyone knows that if the smoke alarm sounds, he or she needs to get out immediately. Have a backup plan. If the planned exit routes are blocked and it’s not possible to leave the house, close all doors between you and the fire. Place a towel under the door and go to an exterior-facing window. Call the fire department to report your location. Share with everyone. Go over the plan with everyone who lives in the house and with visitors and overnight guests. Practice regularly. Practice and review the plan regularly (at least once a year).
With a smart and well thought-out plan in place, you can be one step ahead of the unexpected when you may not have the time or ability to think things through.
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What 3 items are in a fire safety plan?
What should be included in your fire safety plan? – For commercial business owners, few things are more frightening than the thought of a fire ripping through their workplace. The potential loss of business and damage to property pales in comparison to the risk of losing lives.
- Most workplace fires can be avoided if the right precautions are taken.
- But if a fire does occur, a fire safety plan can minimize the impact, as it identifies specific actions that should be taken.
- Not only is a fire safety plan essential to help keep people safe, it’s also the law in many cases.
- In Canada, fire safety plans are required by provincial regulations and local fire codes for certain types of buildings and occupancy types.1 While plans should be tailored to the specific property or business, generally they must detail: a safe and orderly way for occupants to evacuate the building; proper maintenance and housekeeping required to prevent fires; and how to minimize damage should a fire occur.
Typically, owners have to submit their plan to their local fire department for review and approval.2 There’s no time like the present to brush up on your current fire safety plan, or familiarize yourself with the essentials if you need to create one.
To that end, here are some key requirements and best practices to help ensure your people and your business are protected. Regularly train employees on emergency procedures : Your employees must be aware of what to do in a variety of fire emergencies. Staff training should include instruction on: where the fire alarm pull stations and exits are located; procedures for sounding the alarm; how to alert the fire department; potential fire hazards; how to use portable fire extinguishers; procedures for evacuating the building quickly and safely; and where the exits and muster points (or meeting places) are located.
In addition to instructing new hires, be sure to retrain existing staff at least annually.3 Appoint fire wardens : Designated fire wardens are specially trained volunteer employees who help implement the fire safety plan. Fire wardens’ responsibilities include instructing employees on emergency procedures; checking safety equipment, such as extinguishers and exit doors; alerting authorities in the event of a fire; helping people evacuate quickly and safely; and more.
There should be one fire warden for each floor or area (or more to cover absences).4 Install highly visible signs : While your employees may be trained on what to do in the event of a fire, they’ll likely need visual cues to orient themselves in an actual emergency. Fire safety plans require evacuation diagrams that highlight exits, directional areas, pull stations and more.
Diagrams must be permanently affixed to the wall near elevators and exits.5 Inspection and testing of exit signs and emergency lighting should be performed and documented annually. Other signage tips are: ensure exits and other evacuation signs are large enough to be seen from a distance, and illuminated so they can easily be seen in a power outage.6 Avoid displaying too many signs in close proximity, as this can increase the chance of confusion and vital information being overlooked.
- In addition, post warning signs to remind people to take precautions around hazardous areas of your workplace.7 Practice, review, and revise : Fire drills put your fire safety plan into action, ensuring that your employees are familiar with what to do and can evacuate in an orderly fashion.
- Fire drills should be conducted at least twice a year (or as required by your local jurisdiction).
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety recommends observing the response to fire drills and adjusting the plan as necessary to ensure its effectiveness.8 Aside from fire drills, your fire safety plan as a whole should be reviewed every year, especially if there are any changes to the layout, content or headcount of your workplace.
What should be in a safety plan?
A Safety Plan is a prioritized written list of coping strategies and sources of support patients can use who have been deemed to be at high risk for suicide. Patients can use these strategies before or during a suicidal crisis. The plan is brief, is in the patient’s own words, and is easy to read.
What are the contents of fire plan?
Fire alarms, appliances, escape route, Switches etc. – Fire control plan tells us about various fire alarm systems, sprinkler installation, extinguishing appliances, means of escape to different compartments and decks, and ventilation system including particulars of remote operation of dampers and fans.
What is a fire escape plan?
1. What is a Fire Escape Plan? – Things catch fire in a house or a building without warning or someone’s mistake. Having a fire escape plan and smoke alarms is essential in getting you to safety when there is a fire in your house. A fire escape plan depicts the correct and safe routes you can take to escape the fire.
Most people take fire safety for granted and don’t bother to make an evacuation plan because they think it can never happen in their house. Small things such as a short circuit or a curling iron can start a big fire that can burn your house or damage the structure of a building because the fire spreads rapidly.
A fire escape plan is essential for everyone, even if you think you are tough and will not panic during an emergency because smoke and a scary atmosphere are enough to make you panic and freeze you before you try to escape. With an escape plan, you will be calm and take the correct safety precaution to leave your house during a fire. Click on the image to edit. Source: EdrawMax Online
Can you make your own evacuation plan?
Be prepared by making a plan of escape Draw a floor plan of your home, including two ways of escape from each room. Plan an escape route and ensure everyone knows how to get out. Blocked exits are a hazard. Keep exits clear.
What are the contents of fire plan?
Fire alarms, appliances, escape route, Switches etc. – Fire control plan tells us about various fire alarm systems, sprinkler installation, extinguishing appliances, means of escape to different compartments and decks, and ventilation system including particulars of remote operation of dampers and fans.
What does a fire control plan consist of?
A plan providing crucial information for rapid and efficient action of the vessel’s crew during a fire. A Fire Control Plan must show the following details: – Control stations – Various fire sections enclosed by “A” class divisions – Sections enclosed by “B” class divisions – Particulars of the fire detection and alarm systems – Particulars of splinker installation – Particulars of the fire-extinguishing appliances – Means of access to different compartments, decks, etc.
- Ventilating system including particulars of the fan control positions, the position of dampers and identification numbers of the ventilating fans serving each section.
- IMO resolution A.654(16) provides a standardized set of symbols to be used.
- A copy of the Fire Control Plan is to be permanently stored in a prominently marked weathertight enclosure outside the deckhouse for the assistance of shore-side fire-fighting personel.
Further reading: ABS Guidance Notes on Fire-Fighting Systems, can be downloaded from www.eagle.org
