Come and tell me about your fire safety plan...

[BigTeuchLittleTeuch]

It was one of those nights - lying awake in the wee, small hours - worrying about how I would get my toddler and baby out of the house if there was a fire.

I need a plan and I feel like I need some equipment or somesuch too, but maybe that is overly anxious? I can't tell, because I have a real horror of fire and always clock my escape wherever I go (cinema, pubs, etc).

Please tell me what you have - thoughts, plans or proper equipment, like - so that I can reassure myself by being 'prepared'!!

smoke alarms checked regularly.

I keep the window keys and my mobile by the bed, would probably use duvet cover to lower the dds down - dh would have to go first then catch them.

I have only a limited confidence of actually fitting through the window myself but I imagine if the need is pressing enough I'll do it.

I don't have any special equipment as such.

My burglar alarm has a firm alarm part of it which is linked into the fire station so automatically rings them if fire is detected.

I work for the fire service (in the office mind you, and am on maternity leave). Go onto your local fire services web site and see if they have a home / community information page. With a bit of luck they will tell you who to call / e-mail to arrange a home fire safety visit. They might fit fire alarms too. They do that in my area (hampshire). Give them a ring and see if a couple of hunky firemen will pop round to advise you.

IIRC you should have a smoke alarm in every room (except kitchen / bathroom). I have one with a hush button outside my kitchen door for when I burn the toast . And I check them regularly.

IMO opinion candles are not a good idea either, seen too many reports of fires started by them. Cigarettes and smoking when drunk / tired increase the risk too.

We have 4 or 5 smoke alarms.

We have 3 kids and DH and I know which child we are going for.

FBG...what about the third?!

Thanks folks, and good suggestion about speaking to local fireys - I have already told them (local volunteer fire service) where my bedroom is so that they know to come round the back of the house if there's a rescue on...

We have smoke alarms which I check regularly, I make sure both the back door and front door are accessible and that window keys are at every window (apart from DS room - maybe should keep one secreted in there?!).

Does anyone actually own one of these rope ladder thingies or are they targeted at neurotic mothers like me? No way I could get down it anyway, with a baby or toddler.

I need to invent a super, compact pulley system for lowering babies and young children from upper windows and take it to the Dragons . In a pack with smoke masks and...hmmm...needs more thought, methinks!

He is old enough to get himself out once we get him up.

Yes I think about this a lot too (I have been in two fires in my life - and you seriously CANNOT breathe or see - it's like being under black water). PLus as the bedroom door was only very slightly ajar we didnt smell the smoke or anything til we actually opened it when it POORED in.
My fire service came out and did a home safety check (i.e checked applicances looked for hazards) and fitted two smoke alarms. Thye were really good and friendly - plus they arrived in the actual fire engine so my children LOVED it (though the neighbours wondered what was going on!).
I'm of the mind that you should just GET OUT rather than try to extinguish things yourself - even for relatively 'small' fires. By the time you mess about finding equipment, putting it on/setting it up - you'll be unconcious.
We have windows with various ledges/roofs etc beneath them so wouldnt need a ladder - although if I lived in a flat or something I MIGHT consider one. Again - by the time you find it you'll have lost time - and might have been better (and possibly safer) to lower the children to the ground by hand anyway.

I alos back-up what Meglet says about candles - I wont have them in the house.
That's how one of the fires I was in started - my next door neighbour also had his house gutted due to a candle.