Emergencies are never expected. However, since many of us have followed along with NBC’s show “This is Us,” we know that a house fire can devastate a family. Creating a home fire escape plan and teaching it to the members of a household saves lives. You can put a plan together in about 30 minutes, and doing so will bring a sense of preparedness and confidence.

I recognize that no two homes are alike and do not purport to be a fire safety expert. Our family designed our fire escape plan by utilizing resources from FEMA and National Fire Protection Association. The first resource we used is a FEMA video entitled, “Fire is Everyone’s Fight.”

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Confirm that you have working smoke detectors in every bedroom and on all floors. Carbon monoxide detectors on all floors and near gas appliances is also critical for safety. Check with your local housing authority to ensure your house is up to electrical code.

2. Make a map, including the windows, of the rooms of your home. Consider each door and window to be a possible exit during a fire and manually test each door and window to make sure it opens fully.

3. Explain to your family members that smoke inhalation is dangerous and staying low to the ground/crawling towards an exit will be necessary if smoke is detected.

4. Identify two ways out of every room in the house.

   • Door handles may become hot if fire is present and should not be opened. Doors should not be opened if smoke is entering through the cracks around the doorway.

   • Use a fire ladder for descent from a two-story window or above.

5. Designate a safe meeting place away from your home, along the nearest road or access point for first responders. CALL 911. Inform children of “safe” neighbors’ homes in which to find shelter, if needed.

Lastly, show all members of the home where the fire extinguishers are located and confirm that they are fully charged. Teach older children and adults the PASS method of activating the extinguisher: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Swipe side-to-side.

Don’t forget to make a plan that includes the elder or differently abled members of your household and pets. The goal for the plan you design is one that can be executed within two minutes or less.

To practice our fire escape plan, my son filmed himself walking/crawling/talking his way through the escape. We were then able to look back and view potential obstacles and improve his understanding of what a real emergency would look like.

Our family will review the plan every 6 months to ensure everything is still accurate and applicable. We’re choosing to believe that a little bit of preparation can go a long way, and I urge you to do the same.