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  When your home is on fire, know how to escape safely.

The week of October 3 - 9 is Fire Prevention Week.

Home escape plans are important for you and your family in times of emergencies. These should be planned and, more importantly, practiced before they are needed.

Families should sit down and determine several routes of escape from their homes should a fire occur. Several routes are needed in case one is no longer available because it's blocked by flames. These routes should be regularly practiced so that all members of the family are aware of them. These should also practiced on the hands and knees, as this is the ideal way to escape from a house that is filled with smoke.

To practice, begin the drill by sounding the smoke detector so that everyone knows that the sound is telling them to get out of the house. The family should leave iminediately, whether it is a real fire or not. Once every family member is outside, they go to a pre-arranged meeting place so everyone can be accounted for. An ideal spot is a neighbor's house.

You can also time the escape plan and try to improve it with each practice.

For bedrooms on second floors or higher there are companies which manufacture rope ladders that can be stored underneath a window and used to climb down the side of a house if all other means of escape are unavailable.

Remember: do not stay in the house to call the fire department, as that can easily be done from a neighbor's home.

If you wish, firefighters will come to your home to help you and your family with your home escape plan.

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