October is Fire Prevention Month, and the American Red Cross of the Southwest Chapter is asking Suncoast families to do two things: pack a go bag and practice a fire escape plan. A go bag should hold about three days of essentials you can carry out the door, while a home kit should cover up to two weeks. Water, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies and hygiene items are the basics.
John McKinnon, executive director of the Southwest Chapter, says the items families forget most often are medications and important documents. Those are also the hardest things to replace after an emergency, whether it is a house fire or a hurricane evacuation. For home fires specifically, McKinnon stresses that families may have only a couple of minutes to get out, so every room needs two escape routes, the household needs one designated outdoor meeting spot, and smoke alarms should be tested monthly.
The good news is this does not require a big budget or a free weekend. Start with an old backpack, fill it with what you already have in the pantry, add your prescriptions, and take ten minutes to walk the house with your family and pick the meeting spot. Have you checked your smoke alarms this month?
