Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!
Harris County – The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), announces this year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” This year’s message works to better educate the public about the critical importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it. Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2017.
“Developing and practicing a home escape plan is like building muscle memory,” said Mike Montogmery, Harris County Fire Marshal. “That pre-planning is what everyone will draw upon to snap into action and escape as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.”
In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. That’s why home escape planning is so critical in a fire situation. It ensures that everyone in the household knows how to use that small window of time wisely.
In support of Fire Prevention Week, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages all residents of Harris County to develop a plan together and practice it. A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) that’s a safe distance from the home.
For more information about Fire Prevention Week and escape planning, visit www.hcfmo.net or www.firepreventionweek.org.