Fire SAFETY and Survival has 3 main components...

PREVENTION is done before the fire starts -
Inspect you home for fire hazards and eliminate them!

EARLY Warning means WORKING Smoke Detectors or Alarms.
TEST them once a month and replace batteries yearly.

**PLAN** to Escape means you have to develop a *PLAN* that works for you, your home or apartment, and the occupants (adults, SkinKids, and FurKids).

*WE* live in a single story ranch house - 3-4 feet to solid ground from most every window. One half of a window in every room has no screen on it...
I can Hear a Smoke Detector, CLOSE the room door, open that window, grab the FurKids, and do a quick toss to safety. I you live higher up, YOU have to develop a different escape plan.

Please consider calling your local Fire Department and ask them to come to your home or apartment to do a Fire Safety Check, AND to discuss HOW you can safely escape IF a fire breaks out.

YOU need to develop a *PLAN* - and
*PRACTICE* it before an emergency strikes.

Here's a Family Escape Plan that was just developed...

Randi, John, and Fister live on the second floor - (LONG way to *jump*!) I suggested that Randi get a RuckSack so that Fister can be carried (safely) to safety while letting the Hoomin use both hands to either crawl or open doors...
Originally posted by Randi
Be PREpared with SMOKE ALARMS, fireblankets, fire exstinguisers and ladders in case it happens!!
And not least important, have a non burnable rucksack, book bag, or something ready to put your pet into, if you need to get out in a hurry!!

Like this! Fister in his Escape Pod!
Just BEFORE he gets *Zipped* in for security!
FIRE Drill! Let's get OUTTA here!
Many folks ask about using TotFinder and PetFinder decals on their homes...
They can be great - *IF* the Tot or Pet is REALLY *IN* the endangered building... But how often is the Tot/Pet inside?? Or is Fido and the SkinKid visiting at GranMaws house the night the home with the RescueMe sign catches fire???

Here's a link to a VERY well written article that tries to explain why FireFighters have learned to not put a lot of faith in those signs... Window Decals - the FireFighter view...

I wish someone would invent a mini-smoke alarm that Fido and Kitty could wear on their collar - with a unique sound different from a regular smoke alarm and our Own FireFighter-down alarms that WE wear... Then we'd KNOW there was a pet in distress and could use the sound to *find* him or her!
Maybe some day...

Bottom line ~ Ya Gotta Have a **PLAN**!

/s/ Phred