The Property Advocates Discusses the Importance of Establishing a Fire Escape Plan

The National Fire Protection Association celebrated its 100th year of Fire Prevention Week from October 9 through October 15. The Property Advocates wants to emphasize how important it is for families to establish a fire escape plan to keep people safe.

The 100th annual Fire Prevention Week theme is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape.” As the NFPA states, homes today burn faster than ever for various reasons.

Below is an explanation of why a fire escape plan is so important and what steps you can take to create one for your family.

Why Fire Escape Plans are So Important

Families may only have up to two minutes to safely escape from a home fire from the moment a smoke alarm goes off in the home. As such, it’s extremely important that you plan for how to respond to a home fire well in advance of one actually happening because, as Fire Prevention Week’s theme says, the fire won’t wait for families to act once it’s started.

As the leading full-service insurance law firm specializing in property insurance claims in Florida, The Property Advocates is focused on helping clients get what they deserve after they’ve experienced a loss due to damage to their covered property.

While the damaged items are important to the people who lost them, they pale in comparison to the importance of family members, friends, and loved ones who may be in the home at the time of a fire. The Property Advocates reminds families that possessions can be replaced, but people can’t.

That’s why it’s so important to follow the advice of the NFPA and Fire Prevention Week and plan a fire escape plan. Just a few seconds can be the difference between safely escaping a home and an unspeakable tragedy. This is why fire safety education is for all ages, not just for school-aged children.

How to Create a Fire Escape Plan

A typical fire escape plan is comprised of a few steps.

First, plan an escape route. This should include multiple exits from the home other than the front door, which might necessitate making fire safety ladders available for second-floor bedrooms.

It is important to remember that it is best to get low and crawl to each exit because the smoke can make breathing difficult during a fire.

The fire escape plan should also designate a place outside the home where everyone will meet once they’ve escaped. This will allow you to avoid confusion that could occur during a stressful situation.

Once you have established a fire escape plan for the family, The Property Advocates suggests practicing a home fire drill to familiarize everyone with the steps. It’s also important to remind everyone of the plan on a regular basis.

In addition, make sure the home is equipped with the necessary smoke alarms and test them on a regular basis. A smoke alarm is often the first sign that trouble is present.

The NFPA provides free escape planning tools on its website, which you can use to create your own.

Take some time to review the fire escape plan tips and strategies set forth by the NFPA, and keep in mind the importance of establishing a plan, as Fire Prevention Week is just around the corner.

About The Property Advocates

The Property Advocates, P.A. is a full-service Florida insurance law firm specializing in property insurance claims. With offices in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, The Property Advocates team consists of nearly 25 experienced attorneys with decades of combined experience who are compassionate, knowledgeable, and not afraid to go to trial for their clients. They have a successful track record of resolving complicated property insurance claims and getting their clients the fair compensation they deserve.