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What is the purpose of a fire escape ladder?

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Fire safety experts universally recommend that a family not only takes steps to prevent fires, but also that a family has a plan of what to do in the event of a fire. How will your family members escape from the house in the event of a fire? Where will you meet up outside the house? One common answer to the first question involves a fire escape ladder. A fire escape ladder is a ladder that reaches from just above the ground to a window so that someone can step out the window, onto the ladder, and down to safety.

Fire escape ladders are easy enough for nearly everyone to use. If your family needs to escape, all you need to do attach the ladder to something inside the house, drop the ladder out the window, and then climb down. In most cases, a ladder will come equipped with hooks that attach to the windowsill; these hooks will eliminate the need to find something to hook the ladder to.

If it is possible during a fire emergency, one adult should go down the ladder first, and another adult should go down the ladder last. This strategy allows adults to help elderly family members or young children down the ladder. In any case, however, a fire escape ladder is simple enough that even a small child could use the ladder unassisted. Regularly review your fire escape strategy with your family, and practice using the fire escape ladder so that all of your family members can confidently use the ladder when it becomes necessary.

When it comes to fire safety, it is better to be safe than sorry. With this in mind, you should use a fire escape ladder even when you are not completely sure that it is necessary. If you leave a room that contains an escape ladder in search of another exit, you may not be able to return to the ladder. Fire escape ladders, however, allow you to quickly and confidently escape a fire.

In 1999, nearly half of all home fire deaths occurred between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM even though only a quarter of all home fires occur during these hours. When a fire ignites during the night, family members have less time to respond and are more likely to be trapped in a bedroom. A fire escape ladder allows your family to quickly and easily escape a fire that takes it by surprise.

In addition to providing a quick exit, escape ladders also provide a safe exit from a house. According to First Alert, four out of five people believe they would jump out a window if they were trapped on the second floor. While jumping might keep you and your family away from the flames, it also presents the risk of serious injury. A fire escape ladder, in contrast, allows your family to escape out a window safely, as well as quickly.

Next Page: What are the different types of fire escape ladders?

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