Escape Plans

• The best escape route is the normal way in and out of your home.
• Think of any difficulties you may have getting out, e.g. at night you may need to have a torch to light your way.
• choose a second escape route, in case the first one is blocked.
• Keep all exits clear of obstructions, like bicycles.
• If there are children, older or disabled people or pets, plan how you will get them out.

Think about a safe place to go if you can’t escape

The first priority is to keep people safe by getting them out of the building. If you can’t escape, you’ll need to find a room to take refuge in. This is especially important if you have difficulty moving around or going downstairs on your own.

Make sure everyone knows where door and window keys are kept

Decide where the keys to doors and windows should be kept and always keep them there. Make sure everyone in your household knows where they are.

Explain the plan

Once you have made your plan, go through it with everyone in the household. You could also:

• put a reminder of what to do in a fire somewhere where it will be seen regularly, like on the fridge door;
• put your address by the phone so that children can read it out to the emergency services.

Make sure everyone knows what to do

Make sure you have ‘walked through’ the plan with everyone in your household. Regularly remind everyone of what to do, and what not to do, in the event of a fire.  If you have children – practice your plan.

Bedtime checks

Before going to bed each night make some simple checks.  It will soon become a routine.

Escaping from a high rise building

Living above the first floor doesn’t make you any more at risk from fire. Most of your planning should be the same as homes at ground level, but there are some key differences.

• You won’t be able to use the lift if there’s a fire, so choose an escape route that takes this into account.
• Count how many doors there are on the route to get to the stairs when you can’t use the lift, in case you can’t find your way.
• Make sure stairways and fire escapes are kept clear of all obstructions and that fire doors are never locked.
• Regularly check that you can open the doors to stairways or escapes from both sides.
• If there’s a fire elsewhere in the building, you are usually safest in your own flat, unless heat or smoke is affecting you.

Further help on planning your escape

If you would like more advice about planning your escape route, please ring Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 1691125 and arrange a free Home Fire Safety Check.