If you do have a fire in your home, your safety and the safety of your family is more important thatn any of your belongings. Everyone should know that their top priority is to get quickly out of the house. An escape plan, practiced regularly, can help assure that everyone knows what to do in case of a fire.

Sit down with everyone at home to devise a home escape plan. Draw an outline of your home’s floor plan and mark two exits from each room -- one through the door and the other through the window.

Make sure every one knows the two descapesfrom every room, and keeps those exits clear of furniture.

Check windows and screens to be sure they are easily opened. Nailing windows shut may helpt ot prevent burglaries, but they can create a tragedy by trapping someone in a burning building.

Store ladders inside, under hight-story windows to assist in window escapes.

Make special arrangements for young children and the elderly.

Practice your plan regularly so each person knows exactly what to do.

Feel closed doors before opening them. Don’t open them if they’re hot.

Crawl low in smoke.

If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop and roll to extinguish the flames. Never run!

Have a signal in addition to the smoke detector alarm, like a whistle, to alert others if there’s a fire so you don’t have to enter each room.

Be sure everyone knows not to waste time getting dressed or gathering belongings. The important thing is to get out quickly.

Arrange a meeting place outside, away from the house, for a head count. Be sure to include friends or family who may be spending the night. Let everyone know they should get there as quickly as possible, stay there, and not re-enter the house for any reason. Then, call the Fire Department from a neighbor’s house.