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Do you have fire escape ladders in your house?

114 replies

EldonAve · 05/03/2009 21:32

Do you have fire escape ladders in your house?

Just wondering as a house down the street caught fire this week

If you do where did you buy them?

OP posts:
KerryMumbles · 05/03/2009 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ABetaDad · 05/03/2009 23:48

I do.. and so should everyone else.

I keep it about 5 metres from my boiler. I test it every month as well. They are not expensive.

KerryMumbles · 05/03/2009 23:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EldonAve · 06/03/2009 07:21

Do you still have the instructions Kerry? It should say on them

OP posts:
Flightattendant27 · 06/03/2009 07:46

I used to worry about it at our old house, as everything was double glazed and the windows had locks.

Of course ds1 nicked and lost the key from his window, so we only had one key for both. I decided to keep his locked rather than unlocked as it opened over a knackered old conservatory, which would have been feck all use in a fire - he'd have probably died falling through the glass. Also he would have climbed out the window all the time.

So he slept in my bed until we moved. Mine was kept locked but the keys were nearby, on a hook.
It opened over a sort of tiled porch-roof thing, which in turn led straight onto a thick hedge so we'd have been prickled but safe. I often wanted to test it out but didn't dare in case the neighbours thought I was loopy!

Here we are in a ground floor flat and the windows are old glass, so no problem - ds1 might have slight trouble getting out of his, as it would mean climbing on the bunk bed and he might just be too panicked - but it could easily be broken from outside anyway.

I'd never live somewhere it was hard to escape from as I've always been fire-phobic. I'd have ladders if we lived higher up.

We don't have smoke alarms because I don't know where to put them, and they always go off when I am cooking. Which is bad I know.

Will they really send firemen round to tell you where to put them?

onadietcokebreak · 06/03/2009 08:04

flight attendant yes they will each station has a fire safety officer.

Get some smoke alarms today. Sod them going off if you are cooking!

EldonAve · 06/03/2009 08:51

link for free home safety check

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 06/03/2009 10:45

thank you I have done an online risk assessment and also requested a visit.

WilyWombat · 06/03/2009 14:04

Hmm my risk assessment says I shouldnt leave my TV on standby but the ONLY way this TV can be switched OFF is at the wall...which is not easily accessible (great)

WowOoo · 06/03/2009 14:11

We have ladders (3 floors) as dh said we'd die if we jumped. They are under a blanket box by the window ready for action.

I was once in a house with a fire, no one was hurt but it's made me very cautious. Friend died in another house fire when I was a student. Very sad.
Can't believe some of you don't have alarms. If we'd had no alarms we'd a ll prob be dead now. Get them!

WilyWombat · 06/03/2009 14:27

I wouldnt be able to sleep if we didnt have alarms and am anxious of the children stay with anyone else in case they dont.

Ive also started taking my mobile up to bed, we only have cordless phones which probably wouldnt work in a fire.

onadietcokebreak · 06/03/2009 15:08

Wilywombat you can get plugs you power on with a remote...argos/amazon sell them. Not only is standby a fire hazard it eats 80% electric when on standby too!

ClaireDeLoon · 06/03/2009 22:46

I'm really sorry I didn't mean or want to upset anyone I just wanted to point out how quickly the smoke can get you I just would hate too ever think of anyone relying on having time (e.g. to chuck out a mattress) when they'd be better off just getting out.

Fizzylemonade · 07/03/2009 21:19

We have carbon monoxide detectors, and the smoke alarms that detect BOTH types of fire, so slow burning and fast burning because the fast burning fire doesn't produce a lot of smoke so it detects heat (I think, I know it does both)

They were about £25 each and I test them every week. We ALWAYS have spare batteries in and it is a anal good idea to mark on your calendar to change your batteries.

All our window keys are within 1 foot of the window and there is one in every room although the pinning them to the curtains is a good idea.

We charge our mobiles every night upstairs on the bedside cabinet so always have access to a charged mobile.

We also have a ladder, we are only a normal 2 storey house but I want to be prepared if anything happened. It hooks under the window sill and lives under my bed in the drawer next to the window.

We have a plan in place for what to do if there is a fire but only ds1 is old enough to understand what to do, ds2 is 2.

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