Did you know that October is Fire Prevention Month? I had no idea! According to First Alert, 79% of Americans have a home escape plan in case of emergency; however, 51% have never practiced it. Of the families that have practiced, 29% say that they have only practiced it once. We would be part of the 51%.

We just started talking to our kids (almost 3 and 5) about what to do in an Emergency. I didn’t know how to balance education and the seriousness of the situation without scaring them. I decided I would first do my homework and then approach my kids. First Alert sent me a Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Voice Alarm. They say “studies show that voice alarms are more effective at waking children than the standard beeping alarm.” I also found a form on the First Alert website that helps you plan and document your escape route. I am going to post this in our kitchen and practice it…a few times a year.

First Alert and NFPA have a few tips to help you plan a fire escape plan for your family.

• “Involve everyone in your household in developing a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Identify two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Make sure everyone in the home understands the plan.”
• “Install smoke alarms throughout the home and test them monthly. Change batteries every six months to ensure proper function.”
• “Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they’ve escaped.”
• “Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor’s home or a cellular phone once safely outside.”
• “Once you’re out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department dispatcher when you call. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.”

For more on First Alert safety information & products, you can go to their Facebook page or on twitter.

*GIVEAWAY* First Alert is generously giving one winner a Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Voice Alarm.

This giveaway is open to the US and will end October 31st @ noon EST. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email and claim their prize.

Laurie

Hello, my name is Laurie. My family and I live near the Oregon coast. When we aren’t at work, in school, or on the volleyball court, we enjoy traveling, cheering for our favorite sports teams, playing outdoors, and checking off items on our bucket list. We are lucky in that both sets of our parents, as well as our siblings and their families, live within an hour of us. We get together often to help one another out, celebrate milestones, and go on adventures together.

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