How to Make a Family Fire Escape Plan

Did you know you may have only 2 minutes or less¹ to escape a fire once it starts? 

According to the Red Cross, 74% of families don’t have a fire escape plan in place². But the truth is, making one is easy — and it could save your family’s life. Use this simple guide to create your own plan to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency. This can be a fun family activity! 

Equip Your Home

First, you’ll want to make sure your home is equipped with properly installed smoke alarms. These should be placed in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level of your home. You might consider selecting alarms that are interconnected, so when one sounds, they all do. Whatever alarms you choose, test them at least monthly and replace batteries twice a year or consider the 10-year sealed battery option. 

Call a Family Meeting 

Creating a fire escape plan starts with a family meeting. Identify two ways out of every room. When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily. Then choose a safe meeting place outside your home — like a neighbor’s house or a mailbox — and make sure it’s far enough away in case the fire spreads. Also, make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street, so emergency responders can find you quickly.

Use Kidde’s Cause For Alarm escape plan worksheet, available in both English and Spanish to help everyone stay safe.  

Family Considerations 

If your household includes children, elderly family members, those with mobility challenges or pets, designate someone to assist them if an emergency happens — and assign a backup helper in case that person isn’t available.

Also, don’t forget to inform house guests about your fire escape plan. If you’re visiting someone else’s home, ask about their fire escape plan — if they don’t have one, offer to help create one and share our free Cause For Alarm educational resources with them! 

Make Family Fire Escape Planning Fun 

Creating a family fire escape plan is essential, but it doesn’t have to be a tedious or stressful task. In fact, practicing fire drills and escape routes can be a fun, interactive family activity that helps everyone feel confident and prepared in an emergency. Here are some creative ideas to make escape planning a more enjoyable time for your family.

• Themed Escape Day: Choose a theme for your escape practice — like superheroes or pirates. Dress up and act out the escape as if you're in an action movie. 

• DIY Fire Safety Bingo: Create bingo cards with different fire safety items or actions, like “Stop, drop and roll” or “Find the nearest exit” and mark off items as you go! 

• Obstacle Course with a Twist: Set up a fun obstacle course that includes crawling under tables, jumping over pillows or zigzagging through furniture. Pretend you’re navigating through smoke! 

• Fire Safety Olympics: Organize a series of fire safety challenges, like a relay race to see who can grab safety items the fastest. 

Practice Regularly 

Once your plan is in place, the most important step is to practice regularly. Run a family drill at least twice a year both day and night to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do and where to go if the alarm sounds. Practice staying calm, getting out quickly and never going back inside.

Get Started Today

Fire escape planning is a crucial part of family safety that you can easily turn into something fun and entertaining. So, gather the family, get creative and make it an event everyone looks forward to! Check out these great resources from Kidde’s home safety educational program, Cause For Alarm, as well as The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).