Creating a Reliable Fire Escape Plan | SERVPRO of Downtown Chicago/West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown

10/27/2023 (Permalink)

Have you had a fire in your home recently? SERVPRO of Downtown Chicago/West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown is “Here to Help”!

No matter where you live in the loop or in downtown Chicago, knowing how to get out of your home in an emergency is crucial. You may only have minutes or even seconds to find a reliable way out before you are stuck and put into an incredibly dangerous position.

This is especially true when fire is concerned. Fire travels quickly, so getting out immediately should always be your top concern. 

Creating a fire escape plan that your whole family can utilize and understand is essential to your safety. Follow these tips below for creating a fire escape plan that will help everyone in your household make it quickly.

The Creation Of Your Plan 

If you live in a single-family home, take the time to map out your home on a piece of paper. Let your kids go through each room and identify the different exit points, ensuring that there are at least two out of every room. Don’t forget the windows! 

Once the map is drawn, go outside and choose a central meeting location that is far away from your home but easy to get to. Mailboxes across the street or a neighbor’s front porch can be safe locations to choose.

If you live in an apartment or high-rise, go on a tour of your building to locate the stairwell as well as the fire escape for your level. Since elevators are not a safe choice during an emergency and they probably won’t work anyway, having at least two other reliable ways to get out is crucial. 

Make sure your children know how to get to each of these locations on their own in case you aren’t there when the fire breaks out. You should also still choose a meeting location for once you are all safely outside, which could be a spot across the street or down the block. 

Putting the Plan Into Action 

Creating a fire escape plan is one thing, but putting it into action is completely different! Many kids learn by experience, so going through the motions can ensure that your children retain the information they need to react accordingly. 

Practice different scenarios of them being in bed, sitting at the kitchen table or playing in the family room. Push the test button on your smoke alarm and have your kids respond like it was a true emergency. 

As they make their way to the exits, have them army crawl on their bellies or on their hands and knees to simulate staying below the smoke line. Toxic smoke from fires can be just as dangerous as the flames themselves, so practice this all together! Once you are all outside, remind your kids how to call 911 and what to say when a dispatcher picks up. 

Responding to Fire Damage

House fires can be devastating. They can cause a significant amount of damage in just a few minutes, leaving entire sections or levels of your home entirely destroyed. We understand the sensitive and emotional nature of recovering from a house fire, so let us help walk you through the process. 

Our team will handle your entire restoration, from the initial debris removal to the final repairs of your walls, floors and ceilings. We will even handle soot and smoke removal from parts of your home that were never on fire. We will help you recover faster and more efficiently, so give us a call 24/7 for immediate fire restoration assistance. 

House fires can cause serious damage to your home and property. Contact SERVPRO® of West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown for a fast restoration.