Fire Action Plan - Plan your escape route now

Every 5 days, someone in Scotland is killed in a house fire. Most are overcome by smoke. Some die from burns. And every single day of the year, 5 people are injured in house fires. Making an escape plan for your home could save lives.

If you do have a fire in your home, remember:

• fire is fast - you have no time
• fire is dark - you can't see
• fire is hot - you can't breathe

You don't need to be an expert. Just think it through. How would you get everyone out at night? How would you get the kids out? How would granny cope? Then tell everyone what the plan is. Practise what you'd do. You could live to regret it if you don't.

When your escape route is clear:

Get everyone out as quickly as you can. A life is worth more than the most valuable thing you own.
Don't look for the fire. If you can, close the door of the room where the fire is to give you more time to get out.

REMEMBER: GET OUT- CALL THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE OUT -STAY OUT

If your escape route is blocked:

Get everyone into one room. If possible, make it a room with a phone. This is your 'safe' room. But never open the door to a room if it's warm to touch.

• When everyone's in the room, pack clothes, cushions, pillows or towels around the door to keep smoke out
• Open a window and shout until someone calls the fire brigade. Stay at the open window
• If you're on the first floor, you might be able to drop some pillows or cushions and then lower yourself from the windowsill. But only ever attempt this as a last resort
• If there are two adults, one should go first to catch children. Pass them slowly and stretch full length before you let them go
• No-one should ever jump
• If you're on a higher floor, lean out of the window for fresh air until the fire-fighters arrive

Plan your escape route now:

• Practise with your family if fire starts, shout to warn everyone in the house
• Get out quickly don't stop for valuables
• Keep low down air is cleaner and cooler nearer the floor
• Don't look for the fire - keep doors closed if you can't escape, get everyone in a safe room never jump out of a window.
• If you can, lower yourself onto cushions.
• But only ever attempt this as a last resort.

REMEMBER: GET OUT- CALL THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE OUT -STAY OUT

10 Commandments to Fire Safety

1. Make your ESCAPE plan now
2. PRACTISE your escape route with your family
3. DON'T STOP for valuables
4. SHOUT to alert your family
5. KEEP LOW - air is clearer and cooler near the floor
6. DON'T INVESTIGATE - keep doors closed
7. If there's no safe way out, get everyone into a SAFE ROOM
8. Never junp out of a window. You may be able to LOWER yourself onto pilows and cushions. But only ever attempt this as a last resort
9. If you BREAK a window, cover jagged edges before climbing out
10. WHEN YOU'RE OUT - STAY OUT - DIAL 999