Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H)  

It is extremely important for all family members in a household to know what to do in the event of a fire in the home. It is also important for adults to teach young people what to do in the event of a fire. "EDITH" emphasizes the importance of fire drills in the home and gives clear guidelines on how to conduct such drills.

Have An Escape Plan: Sit down with your family. Talk about what you should do in the event of a fire. Organise a step-by-step plan for your escape. Make special arrangements for small children and people with disabilities.

Know Two Ways Out: Discuss and indicate two ways out from every room, especially bedrooms. Include all hallways and stairs. Draw a floor plan.

In An Apartment Or Two-Story House: Make sure everyone knows how to to unlock and open all windows and doors quickly and easily. Know how to get to the exit stairs. Never use an elevator - it could take you to the fire or it could malfunction with you inside. If you are escaping from a second story, be sure you have a safe way to get to the ground.

Get Out Fast: Exit as quickly as possible. If it's smokey, get down. Stay low and crawl fast. Once outside, go to the family meeting place.

Do Not Go Back: Make sure everyone in the family understands the importance of not going back inside. For anything! If you go back, you may not come back out alive.

Choose A Place: Have a place outdoors for everyone to meet for roll call. Make sure everyone knows the number of the fire department and can identify a neighbour's house.

If You Become Trapped: Closed doors between you and smoke. Stuff cracks and cover vents to keep smoke out. Wait at the window and signal with flashlight or sheet.

Practice Your Plan: Have a fire drill in your home or ask the management to schedule one in your apartment building. Practice E.D.I.T.H twice a year, and if you move, devise a new plan.

Choose A Monitor: Appoint someone to sound the alarm and time the drill, making sure everyone uses their second escape route and crawls low under smoke.

Start From Bedrooms: Most fatal fires occur at night when everyone is asleep. So, go to your bedroom, close the door and wait for the monitor to sound the alarm.

Crawl Low: Practice crawling fast and staying low to escape smoke. Smoke rises while clean air stays low near the floor. So get down on your knees and crawl, maintaining contact with the walls as you head to the nearest exit.

Play It Safe - Install Smoke Detectors: Their early warning can provide you with those crucial extra seconds that could safe your life.

Test The Door: Test the door, using the back of your hands. If hot, take your second route out; If not, brace your shoulder against the door and open it carefully, bing ready to close it quickly if heat or smoke rush in.

Go To The Meeting Place: Get out fast and go to the meeting place, where the monitor will then take a head count and review the drill, discussing any problems with escape routes.

E.D.I.T.H Can Save Your Life! Learn The Drill

• Everyone in bedrooms, doors closed.
• Monitor sounds the alarm.
• Crawl low under smoke.
• Test door. Pretend it's hot and use alternate escape.
• Meet outside for roll call. One person goes to neighbour's house to call fire department.