Evacuation plans key to ensuring your family's safety

Winter is just around the corner and, with that, folks are starting to use their wood stoves, fireplaces and pellet stoves.

Because home fires are so devastating and sometimes cause loss of life, it is very important to have a home evacuation plan in place. It also is very important to practice the plan frequently to ensure that everyone knows, especially children, what to do in the event of a house fire. Below is a plan that my family has used.

1. Examine each room, analyze what is the quickest and safest way out of each one.

2. Practice the fire drills so that each family member knows exactly what to do and where to go.

3. Have each family member get in the habit of feeling the door before opening it to see if it feels hot. If it feels hot, don't open it. Make sure that children understand that heat means that there is fire on the other side of the door.

4. Have children practice crawling to their escape route. Smoke will rise to the ceiling. If they try to walk, they will be overwhelmed by smoke inhalation caused by chemical vapors in the air formed by man-made materials used in the home.

5. Develop a special place for all family members to meet outside of the home so that you know immediately if someone is missing.

6. It is very important that children know what firefighters and police look like so that if they enter the home, children will not hide in fear of them.

7. When fire breaks out, get out of the home, then call the fire department using your cell phone or a neighbor's phone. The time spent on the phone could cost you your life.

Note: Your family's life is far more important that a personal thing or material item. Family members can't be replaced but everything else can be.

If you are allergic to any of the above products, please don't use them. Always test fabrics and paints before using any chemical compounds.

Please remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and eye protection for your eyes.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES at 255-2266, or e-mail them to madan@surf1.ws or drop them off at the Daily Bee, 310 Church St., or mail them to or mail them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Box 159, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

For more information about Ed, check him out at www.NWEES.com.

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the CEO of Northwet Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.