House Fire: Get Out Using What's Around You

FIRST RULE - Smoke is the killer, not the flames. Get LOW — the cleanest, coolest air is within a foot of the floor. IF YOUR DOOR IS CLOSED (you wake to the alarm) 1. Feel the door with the BACK of your hand. If it's warm, or smoke curls from the gap, DO NOT OPEN IT. Fire is on the other side; opening feeds it oxygen and flames can roll in. 2. Keep the door shut. Stuff the gap (and any vents) with a shirt, towel or blanket. 3. Open a window slightly for air, signal rescuers (flash a light, wave a cloth, yell) and call 911. Stay low. 4. If you're above the ground floor and must leave the room, hang from the sill and drop feet-first; a 2nd-3rd floor drop is survivable, a fire is not. IF THE DOOR IS COOL 1. Open it slowly, stay low, and head for the nearest exit. 2. Close doors behind you as you go — every closed door slows the fire and buys minutes. 3. Crawl if there's smoke; breathe through a damp cloth if you have one. EVERYONE'S TOOLKIT (already in most homes) - A charged phone on the nightstand (don't hunt for it). - A whistle on the keychain — a kid can blow a whistle much longer than they can yell. - An escape ladder for 2nd/3rd-floor bedrooms. - Two planned ways out of every room. - A family meeting place outside (e.g., mailbox, a specific tree). ONCE YOU'RE OUT - Never go back inside for anything or anyone. Tell arriving firefighters instead — they have gear and air. - Account for everyone at the meeting place. - Call 911 even if a neighbor already did.