Have you ever stubbed your toe on the wall in the middle of the night on your way to the bathroom?  This is a routine trip that we have all taken thousands of times yet somehow in the urgency of getting to the bathroom we forget where the wall is or the door.  Now imagine that same trip with a fire alarm ringing, extreme heat all around you, smoke so thick you can't see the end of your nose, and your child screaming and crying because they are disoriented and scared.  Can you get out?  Can you safely navigate your way to your child's room, then down the stairs, and out the front door?  What if that way is blocked by fire?  It's a good fifteen feet to the ground out your bed room window.

All of these questions are reasons for you to have an effective escape plan.  A good escape plan should include two ways out of every room.  Rooms above and below the first floor have their own special considerations.  Compact light weight escape ladders are available at many retailers and on the web.  Basement egress windows are a very important part of any house.  Other considerations include children, elderly or disabled persons, pets, and guests.  These people and animals will need special help getting out of your home. 

Pets are a very touchy subject with most people.  Pets should never keep you from escaping a fire.  If you can't call to your dog or cat and have them follow you don't chase them leave them and let the firemen try to save them. 

Another important part of any escape plan is your meeting place.  This is a place away from the house that your whole family should go to so that everyone knows that everyone else is safe. Good meeting places include large trees, fire hydrants, out buildings on the property, mailboxes, street signs, or a neighbors house.