The First Step: Getting Out Of Your House
Quiz time:
An explosion rocks your neighborhood, raining fire and brimstone down upon your home. You wake up to the acrid smell of smoke. Your room isn't on fire, but you can see black smoke creeping in under the door that leads to the rest of the house.
You feel the door and it's burning hot to the touch. You know the fire must be licking at the door if it's that hot. Your kids are asleep in their rooms on the other side of the house. What do you?
a) Open the door and try to run through the house to rescue your children.
b) Exit through one of your windows, hoping the rest of the people in the house made it out safely.
c) Sit tight and wait for the fire department to arrive.
d) Enact your emergency evacuation plan, knowing the rest of the people in the house will have done the same.
Sadly, for most Americans, the answer is either a, b or c. We are woefully unprepared for an emergency situation. When a situation like the one above presents itself, we don't know what to do.
A good emergency escape plan gives each and every member of your family a way out of the home when something goes bad. They should have at least two routes (three if you live in a large house) they can take to get out of the house in case there's something impeding their progress on the route they've chosen.
Depending on your location, you may need to plan for the following emergency situations:
Natural disasters.
Hurricanes.
Earthquakes.
Tornados.
Tsunamis.
Floods.
Fires.
Volcanoes.
Other natural disasters.
Man-made Emergency Situations.
Home invasions.
Set fires.
Emergency evacuations.
Terrorist attacks.
Bombings.
Raids.
Other man-made situations.
The most important plan of all is the one for the emergency most likely to occur in your area. If you live in a flood zone, your family should know the flood plan inside and out. If you're in an area where earthquakes are common, you're going to need a plan to get out of the house when the Big One hits.
A well-designed evacuation plan might just save the lives of you and your loved ones. Don't assume it can never happen to you. Prepare like it's going to happen to you and you'll be ready when it does. Could you live with yourself if someone you cared for died in an emergency because you didn't prepare them to handle that emergency properly?
I know I couldn't—especially when it doesn't take long to create a plan and teach it to everyone in the house.