Beyond Stop, Drop and Roll
Tips for holding a fire safety drill



Your kids may know the basics when it comes to fire safety, but do they know what to do in case of an actual fire in the home? If the answer is somewhere between "not reallly..." and "ummm..." read on so you can have a successful fire safety drill with the family.

(Image via: iStock)

One fire drill doesn't cut it. Having regular fire drill and a solid evacuation plan allows your responses and behaviours to become automatic in case of an emergency. Most home fires start in the middle of the night and only allows minutes for evacuation while you and your family are tired, confused or scared.

It's important to make sure that during the drill proper fire safety awareness is part of the drill. Rather than just walking outside, practice real and different scenarios. Is the home filled with smoke? Teach the kids to crawl along the floor to safely escape and check door handles for heat before entering or exiting a room.

Tips For a Successful Fire Drill

• Be consistent with your expectations and performance. Don't be relaxed with one drill, and strict with another.
• Include people who visit the house regularly such as baby-sitters, neighbor's kids, extended family.
• Fire drills are for holidays too. Once the turkey is brining or Christmas tree goes up, have a drill that takes the new decorations into consideration.
• Have night time drills where family members must use flashlights to escape.
• Have fun, but take all drills seriously. Insist that all family members who are present participate. 
• Getting out of the house is only the first step. Your fire drill should include meeting up outside the house at a predesignated place, like a landmark or structure a safe distance from the house.
• Practice fire drills where family members must escape from different rooms in the house including bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and the living room.
• Hold drills at all times of the day and night. Fire strikes anytime, so practice at all times.
• If you have second-story windows, practice using a fire ladder. Deploy it and climb it.
• Children in your family should know how to deploy fire ladders, use a fire extinguisher and how to call 911.
• Appoint one person as "fire marshal." It's their job to trigger the alarm and time the exit, take turn being fire marshal so everyone knows how to take charge.
• Time your drills. Knowing how fast people are getting out will help you improve your plan.
• Keep records of every drill. In case of a fire, your insurance company will look favorably on this information.
• Make everyone participate. This builds teamwork and helps family/employees learn to depend on each other.
• Throw in unexpected blocks, like having a family member block an exit and shout, "I'm a fire! 
• Go out another way!" or use a piece of cloth draped or pinned across an exit to represent fire or a blocked exit.
• Talk about the fire drill afterward and critique it. What went right, what went wrong. What could you do better next time.

Home Fire Safety Checklist



As a home owner, it can be easy to install a couple smoke detectors and throw a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and say your prepared. The hard honest truth is homeowner's need to take a a more comprehensive approach to fire safety and preparedness. By checking a few areas around your house with this fire safety checklist, you can ensure your home is a little safer, and sleep a little easier.

(Image: iStock)

Garage

Oily rags are in air-tight containers and away from heat sources
Trash is not stored in the garage
No pull-down stair access to garage attic space is linked to the main house
Door leading from the garage to the house is solid, has a threshold to block fire from traveling to the house
Door leading to the house has weather stripping to prevent carbon monoxide fumes from passing through
Garage is clear of junk that can facilitate fire
Gasoline is stored away from ignition sources like heat, sparks, and flames and in containers with approved labels.

Basement

Ensure areas around heat-generating equipment such as a furnace, oil burner or wood stove, are clear of combustible materials, debris and rags
Water heater burner-access doors are closed to prevent flame roll-out
Breaker panel has not been recalled or recommended for replacement
Breaker wires are not loose
Wire insulators show no signs of erosion or decay
Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) have been added for protection from electrical wiring faults, particularly in older homes. WARNING: If you’re not an electrician, call one. Don’t try to fix this yourself
Oily rags are in air-tight containers and away from heat sources
Trash is not stored in the basement.

Laundry Room

There is no lint build-up inside the dryer, exhaust duct, or behind the dryer
Foil or plastic accordion-type ducting material has been replaced with rigid or semi-rigid metal duct.

First Floor

Working smoke detector
Cooking surfaces are clean
Towels, curtains, plastic utensils, and pot holders are stored away from hot surfaces
Cookies and other kid-friendly snacks are stored away from the stove
Kitchen has a working fire extinguisher
Light bulbs meet the recommended wattage of each fixture
Incandescent lights are not exposed, do not have a shade closer than 12 inches, and are at least 12 inches from combustibles
Any furniture meets recommendations for fire-resistant upholstery
Fireplace has a screen, surrounding area is clear of debris, and flue is clear of obstructions
Chimney is cleaned annually
Chimney has fire-stop of gypsum board or fire-code gypsum board at each floor penetration
Metal vent areas around chimney are blocked by sheet metal
No electric cords run under carpets or are pressed against a wall
Extension cords and outlets are not overloaded (powering too many devices).

Second Floor

All mattresses were made after 1973
Each bedroom and hallway has a working smoke detector especially if you sleep with your doors closed
Closet lights are not exposed
Light bulbs meet the recommended wattage of each fixture
Incandescent lights are not exposed, do not have a shade closer than 12 inches, and are at least 12 inches away from combustibles
No electric cords run under carpets or are pressed against a wall or bed
Extension cords and outlets are not overloaded
Portable heaters or other heat-producing appliances are three feet from beds and other flammable materials, such as curtains
All bedrooms have an escape ladder that all members of the family know how to use
Electric blankets are UL-approved, with cords in solid condition
The floor has a working fire extinguisher.

Attic

There are no gaps around the chimney

There is at least a three-inch gap between insulation and lighting fixtures.