Tampa Fire Rescue: Have Two Ways Out! | Families

Tampa, FL-- In honor of National Fire Prevention Month, and Fire Prevention Week (October 7 - 13), Tampa Fire Rescue is urging families to "Have Two Ways Out!"

Tampa Fire Rescue is teaming up with NFPA to spread the word around this year's theme, "the importance of fire escape planning and practice," a release explains.

Their stats from 2010 fully support the importance of planning for a fire. They say U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires, which caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

"One home structure was reported every 85 seconds in 2010," says Debra Sue Warshefski, of Tampa Fire Rescue's Public Information Office. "Fire is unpredictable and moves faster than most people realize.  Having a tried and true escape plan with two ways out is essential to ensuring your family's safety should fire break out in your home.  Prepare now, before the emergency!"

Tampa Fire Rescue recommends the following tips for planning your family's escape:

• Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to get out of every room.
• Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where everyone can meet once they've escaped. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place on your escape plan.  Have a second location in the event the first is not available.
• Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your escape plan.
• Have a grown-up sound the smoke alarm and practice your escape plan with everyone living in your home.
• Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator and remind grown-ups to have your family practice the plan at least twice a year when you change your batteries or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.

Click here for more information.