It's important everyone in your home (including children and the elderly) is involved in putting together the escape plan
Everyone should know where the window and door keys are
Your normal way out of the house is your best escape route, so always keep it clear of clutter - think of the difficulties you'll have using this route in pitch darkness or smoke
Walk your escape route with the rest of your family or housemates, and make sure everyone can open windows and doors easily
Always choose a second escape route, in case the first one is blocked
Review your escape route regularly to take into account any changes in your home.
What to do in a fire
Keep calm and act quickly - tell everyone to get out of your home
Seconds count so don't waste time investigating or rescuing valuables
Before opening a door, check it first by using the back of your hand. If it's warm, don't open it!
When moving through the home, remember to shut doors behind you to help contain the fire.
If your clothes catch fire - stop, drop and roll
If your clothes catch fire, don't run around, you'll fan the flames and make them burn faster
Lie down and roll around. It makes it harder for the fire to spread and smothers the flames
Smother the flames with a heavy material, like a coat, blanket, or a fire blanket.
Escaping through a window
You should only try and escape through a window if you're on the ground or first floor, and your escape route is blocked. If you're higher up, wait to be rescued by firefighters
If you need to break a window, use a heavy object to break the glass in the bottom corner. Then knock out the glass. Be careful of jagged edges - make them safe by laying a towel or blanket over them
Break your fall with cushions and bedding
Don't jump - lower yourself down before dropping.
What to do if your escape route is blocked
If your escape route is blocked and you can't escape through a window, call 999 immediately and find a room to wait in until firefighters arrive
Open a window in the room and put cushions and bedding around the bottom of the door to block out the smoke
If smoke starts to come into the room - keep low to the floor as this is where the air is cleaner.
Once you've escaped
Don't go back inside your home, even if there is someone left inside. Wait for firefighters and when they arrive give them as much information as possible.
