Prepare Kansas

Tag: family preparedness

Two minute drill

If your home were on fire, how long do you think you would have to escape? A recent survey by the American Red Cross found that most of us think we will have about five minutes to escape a burning home.

noun_30585_ccExperts agree that we actually only have about two minutes to escape before it is too late to get out.

Take these two simple steps that can save lives:

1) Check your existing smoke alarm — if you don’t have a smoke alarm, install at least one on every level of your home. Check local codes for specific requirements in your community.

2) Practice fire drills at home. Fewer than one in five families with children under the age of 18 have actually conducted a home fire drill. Practice periodically until all members of the family know how to get out of every room and can do it in two minutes or less.

Not sure how to plan or practice a home fire drill? Watch this video and learn more.

Not convinced that getting prepared is worth the effort?

If you aren’t convinced that getting prepared is worth the effort, this post on EDENotes, the official blog of the Extension Disaster Education Network, can change your mind. In addition to helping you avoid panic when a disaster hits, being prepared can help you survive on your own and keep in touch with family members. It can also help you avoid or reduce damage, retain important papers, save money, and ultimately recover faster.

Not sure how to get started? Register for the Prepare Kansas online financial challenge at http://bit.ly/1pwiiFE and get prepared during September!Prepare Kansas