Plan an escape route to safety

Fitting smoke alarms is a first crucial step to protecting yourself and those you love from a fire, but would everyone know what to do if one went off after a fire started in your home?

May is the National Fire Chiefs Council month of action, designed to encourage people to plan an emergency escape route in their home. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to encourage residents to all take part.

Planning an escape route with your family and going through what they would need to in an emergency could mean everyone getting out safely if a fire starts.

Nick Evans is Head of Prevention at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “Your chances of escaping a fire successfully will improve if you have an effective plan of action that you and your family can follow in an emergency.

“It would be great if we could use this current time of lockdown to think about our fire safety and work out a plan of what everyone in the house would need to do if a fire was to start, both during lockdown and beyond. That way everyone will be able to get out safely.”

Follow our advice for making a safe escape plan:

• Plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows how to get out.

• Make sure exits are kept clear.

• The best route is the normal way in and out of your home.

• Plan a second route in case the first one is blocked.

• Take a few minutes to practise your escape plan.

• Review your plan if the layout of your home changes.

• Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them.

Nick added: “To those people that still don’t have working smoke alarms fitted on each floor of their home, I’d say to make buying these devices a priority. They will give you the time to escape before a fire takes hold.

"If a fire does break out, do not tackle it yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999.”

For more information about escape plans and all other fire safety advice please visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk.