Would you know what to do if your smoke alarm went off in the middle of the night? Would you and your family be able to escape?

It can be difficult to think in an emergency, the situation may change quickly and it is important that everybody understands their own responsibilities if a smoke alarm goes off.

If the alarm goes off in the middle of the night it will likely be dark as well, making it even more difficult to a find a way out.

Even if you already know what to do, you need to talk about your plan with everyone who lives in or visits your home.

Making an escape plan in advance and practising it regularly can save lives.

Making the plan:

â?¢ Include everyone in your house, thinking especially of children, older people and lodgers.

â?¢ Consider your regular visitors and their needs.

â?¢ Talk through your escape plan, including what to do and what not to do in case of a fire.

Choose an Escape Route:

â?¢ The best escape route is your usual way in and out of your house.

â?¢ If possible, choose a second route in case the first one is blocked.

â?¢ Keep both routes clear of obstructions.

Make sure everyone knows where you keep the keys:

â?¢ Always keep the door and window keys in the same place.

â?¢ Make sure everyone in the household knows where they are.

Make sure everyone knows what they should do:

â?¢ Take the time to walk through the plan with everyone in the household.

â?¢ Regularly remind everyone what to do in the event of a fire.

â?¢ Keep a copy of your address by the phone, so children or visitors can read it out to the emergency services.

â?¢ Draw out your escape plan and put it somewhere prominent in your house, like the door of the fridge, so that everyone is familiar with it.

What to do if your escape route is blocked:

â?¢ If you can’t escape, you will need to find a room to take refuge in.

â?¢ This is particularly important if you have difficulty moving around or going downstairs on your own.

â?¢ Try to find a room that has a window and a phone.

â?¢ Put bedding around the bottom of the door to block smoke entering the room.

If you would like to discuss escape plans further or book a free home safety visit, call 647300, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.