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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More specifically, could you get everyone out of the house, blindfolded, in under a minute?

176 replies

Nimbostratus100 · 01/03/2023 07:17

Following on from the emergency thread... (yes I have let the police in without the washing up being done in the past - no - no one cared...)

If your house was filled with smoke, and you couldn't see or breathe in - could you get out?

This mostly means, can you put your hand on the door or window key right now, with your eyes closed, and does everyone know where to meet up?

( lives have been lost when everyone is safely out, but someone is missing and a relative returns to a burning building to look for them, not knowing they were already safe)

I think this is important - if you have to get out of the house blind, before you next breathe in - do you have an emergency key in a fixed place you can put your hand straight on now without thinking?

OP posts:
DrHousecuredme · 01/03/2023 07:37

Yes, we could get downstairs and out very easily if needed. It never occurred to me to run around catching the cats though. I sort of thought that cats have very good survival instincts and would dash out of the door the moment it opened anyway.
We've also discussed sliding down the porch roof and off of the stairs we're out of action.
It wouldn't be a comfortable landing but definitely doable in an Emergancy.

TheClitterati · 01/03/2023 07:37

I have been in a house fire. Please believe me you do not have time to locate a key, and put it in a lock and turn it.

Just imagine right in this instant dirty cotton wool was forced into your eyes, nose, mouth and you are suffocating. That is what it like. One second you are seeing and breathing ok, then the next second you are not. The smoke came from no where and instantly.

This was before I had kids so just myself to worry about. I was 5 meters from the door - straight line to get there, no key required & I didn't get there. I passed out. Someone else stood on me as they were leaving (they couldn't see me) and dragged me out.

It's not the fire so much that is the danger, but the smoke. It's not like anything I've ever seen represented on tv or film.

I recently changed our lock here so we don't need to keep a key in the door - just turn a knob. Not high on everyone's priority list but it cost £100 for a locksmith& much cheaper if you do it yourself

sorrynotathome · 01/03/2023 07:39

I don't leave my key in the door as I live alone and if I was in trouble and couldn't get to the door, none of my keyholders would be able to get in if there is a key in the lock.

sorrynotathome · 01/03/2023 07:40

In fact I'm amazed all these firepeople advise leaving a key in the door.

safeplanet · 01/03/2023 07:45

Key in the front door is the only arrangement I'm happy with.

I remember being told not to do by police at school but maybe houses & doors are more secure now.

safeplanet · 01/03/2023 07:48

and also if you have accident & can't open the door how can family & friends with a key get in to assist?

TheClitterati · 01/03/2023 07:49

SellFridges · 01/03/2023 07:27

We have a door with a twistable lock on the inside. I think it’s called a thumb turn, so no key required from the inside.

This is the kind of lock you need if you currently have a lock you need a key to unlock.

It's terrifying how many houses need a key to unlock the door so you can exit. I can't believe it's even legal.

704703hey · 01/03/2023 07:50

If there was a fire downstairs I think we'd have to tear off my curtains and hop out of the bedroom window (1st floor). I very rarely don't have keys or phone on me

wherethewildthingis · 01/03/2023 07:50

We had a serious house fire before Christmas. Luckily, in the evening so we were all awake and got out quickly. It took hold within seconds. The smoke alarms went off after about two minutes and the power cut at the same time.
Our house is uninhabitable at the moment but when we go back we will be having emergency torches next to our beds, escape windows on every floor and regular practice of getting out quickly. Our house is three storey so it's very important.

safeplanet · 01/03/2023 07:51

This is the kind of lock you need if you currently have a lock you need a key to unlock.

that's our main door lock but at night we do chubb as well

Mangledrake · 01/03/2023 07:52

sorrynotathome · 01/03/2023 07:40

In fact I'm amazed all these firepeople advise leaving a key in the door.

Mine works from outside with key in lock, or they could go round the back through neighbour's house.

But yes you need to find something that works for you.

TBH key in door helps me find key every day and I lose things easily. I suppose nobody should be relying on getting to front door - leaving rooms directly by windows often better?

MangoBiscuit · 01/03/2023 07:54

Yes, I reckon so. We replaced the door locks with ones with thumb turns on the inside, so we can lock and unlock from the inside without a key (mainly so I don't lock DP out by leaving my key in, again)

I can also get downstairs and to the door in the pitch black, or with my eyes closed. I just wanted to see if I could.

One of ours cats would bolt out. The other one would probably hide under the table. He's a daft git, but fairly predictable. He has very few survival instincts. Cat carrier is set up in a cubby on the way out, so I hope I would be able to grab him and be stuffing him into the carrier on my way out, unless I need to haul one of the kids out.

DogInATent · 01/03/2023 07:54

sorrynotathome · 01/03/2023 07:40

In fact I'm amazed all these firepeople advise leaving a key in the door.

Firefighters don't need a key to get through a door.

Hesma · 01/03/2023 07:55

That’s why I got a thumb lock on my new front door. No messing around with keys inside

Ilkleymoor · 01/03/2023 07:56

Ground floor flat, door opens without key, 3 other patio style doors with keys so multiple exits. I could get me and child out in under 20 seconds. Problem is partner who sleeps deeply, often with sleeping pills and is partially deaf. Alarm would wake him but my plan is to boot him hard and drag a bit out of bed, get child, boot again if time and get out. But I would prioritise child if it came to it which is a grim thing to write.

bigbluebus · 01/03/2023 07:58

Front door doesn't need a key to open from the inside. All windows have keys on a hook to the left of the window sill. Back door key always hangs on a hook on side of cupboard in utility room. We've got a pitched roof under each of the front bedroom windows where we all sleep - back bedrooms not used at night. We shut all downstairs internal doors at night. So I hope we'd stand a good chance of getting out.

wherethewildthingis · 01/03/2023 08:06

On the subject of doors/keys- in under two minutes the main door out of our home was fully on fire. We did escape that way but would have been unlikely if it had been the middle of the night. By the time the fire service arrived the door no longer existed.
So probably better to worry about making sure you have several alternative routes out of your house, rather than whether to leave a key in the door .
And as PP said, if the door is locked the fire service have tools to get it down quickly

Ketchupwee · 01/03/2023 08:08

We have a big window above our flat roof porch, which is about 12 steps from our bed (in completely different room but small house!). Windows have to be locked and without key for insurance purposes, but key is always on a hook which is accessible and all residents, human and animal, could get out of there

Front door doesn't need a key, you just press the handle, and once out if the bedroom is a straight run down the stairs with no furniture in the way. The back door had the key in it at all times

We also have a fire extinguisher upstairs and down

knittingaddict · 01/03/2023 08:10

Mangledrake · 01/03/2023 07:20

Key in the front door is the only arrangement I'm happy with.

Me too. Have another escape route too if the downstairs was on fire. Also pretty good at moving around in the dark.

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 01/03/2023 08:10

Yes. We spent years working with a company filled with ex firefighters (fire assessment regulation), some of their tales would make your blood run cold.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 01/03/2023 08:18

Key in the front and back door. Windows are too old to have working locks anyway.

My PIL always worryme as they lock everything up like fort knox and then hide they keys in a locked tin under the bed (It’s not an old age thing, they aren’t that old and they have always done it).

To unlock their front and back door, it’s 4 keys in different locks on each door. None are marked they all look the same.

Windows are always locked, keys always hidden away. Only exception is when you are about to boil to death in summer and then FIL will begrudgingly open a window a
crack for ten mins while looking at his watch and moaning about heat efficiency.

The hallways are also hoarded with boxes.

I’ve never let my children sleep there or be there without me for that reason. No one is getting out of that house in a fire.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 01/03/2023 08:19

I have an eye condition which means I can hardly see in the dark anyway, so I am pretty good at it, lots of practice!

butterfliedtwo · 01/03/2023 08:20

Probably not. I've resigned myself to this fact, however sad it is.

TangledUpInDreams · 01/03/2023 08:21

Yes.

There are only two of us.

Keys are always in the same place, easily located.

Holdmypint · 01/03/2023 08:23

Helpful thread. I hang a key on a hook by the front door, but i need to check this arrangement. We have two bedrooms upstairs both with skylights that lead out on to a flat roof, and would then enable us to go on to the neighbours' roofs - but it would be too high to get down, so I don't know if this would be a good arrangement - but at least it's an option.

Does anyone know if the fire service still do home safety visits - I am sure they used to.