Practice your Fire Drill at home. "Get Out - Stay Out"

Statistics indicated that, in Ireland , an average of one person dies in a fire every week. You can avoid being a statistic by practicing the following:

1. Have at least one working smoke alarm in your house less than 5 years old

2. Ensure good house keeping and do not overload plugs, do not place clothes near open flames, use a fire guard, maintain all electrical and other equipment properly and do not allow rubbish or other flammable items to collect in large amounts

3. Unplug electrical items not in use

4. Close all doors at night and make sure your escape route out of the house is not blocked

5. Identify an assemble point; the front gate for example.   If you exit by the back door of the house and cannot get to the front assembly point, select another assembly point at the back.   The assembly points should be at least 12m from the house

6. Show everyone in the house how to get out.  Ensure everyone knows an alternative route 

7. A smoke alarm goes off when there is small amount of smoke, e.g. when you burn the toast.   This allows time to exit by the normal route i.e. the front or back door.   If you do not have a working smoke alarm, by the time you wake up your escape route may be cut off.  If this happens, shut your door and put towels or bed clothes round the door to prevent smoke entering your room.  If you are upstairs, wait near the window for the Fire Brigade to rescue you using a ladder.

8. Instruct everyone that if the alarm goes off they should leave the house by one of the routes they have been shown.  Parents should collect small children/babies.   Anyone else who cannot get out unassisted should be assigned an assistant 

9. If your smoke alarm does not have a light, ensure you always keep a flashlight near your bed

10. Leave the house quickly, closing all doors behind you, and go to the assembly point

11. Call the Fire Brigade using your mobile phone or go to a neighbouring house to call.  Do not remain in the property to make a call.   Tell the Fire Brigade if everyone is out of the house

12. Do not leave the assembly point unless you have told someone

13. Do not go back into the house; wait for everyone to come to the assembly point.  If you have two assembly points check both to see that everyone is out.  People die in fires searching for people who are not there

14. Meet the Fire Brigade and tell them again that no one is in the house

15. Practice this drill regularly