Three sisters aged 12-19 died this weekend in a house fire. They had huddled in a closet and called 911. Their mother jumped off a deck to escape the fire, and neighbors could not get in to rescue the girls.
I was devastated by the news remembering how my parents suffered my my sisters died young from disease. I can’t imagine how having your children die without warning must feel. The pain must be multiplied exponentially.
This got me thinking about our family’s fire escape plan. We have two different route’s planned out… one to go out of my son’s bedroom window to the porch roof, where we can safely jump to the grass below. The second is down the stairs if possible to the front door. I am now thinking that it is not enough.
I hesitated to purchase fire escape ladders when my kids were small because I thought our kids might abuse them and that was asking for trouble. Now that my kids are both teenagers… I guess they can still abuse them, but I would rather be safe than sorry. My kids, if in their bedrooms need to be able to exit the home from their rooms without coming in the hallway at all. While this would be their last line of defense, preferring they exit from my son’s room, if my daughter can’t get out of her room, I don’t want her found in her closet with smoke inhalation.
Because fires can engulf a home quickly, fire escape ladders are necessary to make any window an exit. Some ladders can be used in 2-5 story homes and only cost $25.00. For a few hundred dollars, you can even have a fire escape ladder installed in the room beneath the window.
I know there is no fool proof plan when it comes to fire, but with a recent tragedy on my mind, I will get some comfort knowing I have made steps to secure my children in case of an emergency.
If you liked this you should also read my blogs at the homeschool blog, the parents blog, and the frugal blog. You can read my recent posts here.
Also read:
Your Family’s Fire Escape Plan
Fire Safety Inspection For Foster License