Having a fire safety plan is crucial

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Dayton firefighters said having an action plan before a fire broke out in your apartment complex, could save your life.

The first thing to do, was to separate yourself from the flames. If your door handle was too hot, firefighters said, do not open it.

Instead, go to the nearest window and call for help, or hang a sheet down to try and get attention.

Michael Marks said his son was forced to jump out the window when he found himself trapped in the second floor of his apartment, off Lakebend Drive.

"There was so much smoke there, that he had to jump out the balcony, and he landed wrong so he just went to hospital for safety reasons," said Marks.

If the window is too high off the ground, and jumping off was not an option, firefighters said it was important to have a plan. They recommended opening the window and calling for help, so firefighters could get a ladder out and rescue you.

"You need to make sure that your second way out is accessible, and that is a window. A window that opens," said Andrew Steele, a fire prevention specialist with the Dayton Fire Department.

Steele said he sometimes saw airconditiong units blocking windows. It was important to make sure your second way out was easily accessible.

Marks wasn't so sure about planning for a fire. He felt it was easy to panic, but firefighters said having a plan would help keep you cool, when you felt the heat.
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Firefighters said it was important to talk about your plan with your family, and practice it several times.

"Practice meeting at the mailbox, or a tree or playground equipment in the yard," said Steele.

Firefighters also want to remind residents to check their smoke detector batteries. Hold the test button down, and wait to hear the beep, so you know that it is working.

Other suggestions were to sketch out the floor plan of your apartment, and mark down possible ways out in case of fire.

If you live in a high rise, you should get a copy of the building's fire safety plan and look it over, so you know where every single exit is.