Our 3-Step Escape Plan

  • First Escape Route
  • Second Escape Route
  • Meeting Place
Notes

Use this space to note any additional information about your escape plan, i.e. who will assist

Your checklist

  • Get low

    Smoke is poisonous and more deadly than flames.

    If you breathe smoke for more than a few breaths it can kill you.

  • Be fast

    A house fire can kill you in less than three minutes.

    Don't spend time trying to save possessions.

  • Close doors

    A closed door buys you time.

    It slows down the spread of fire, giving you more time to get to safety.

  • Get out - stay out!

    People have died by going back into a fire.

    Don't leave the meeting place to go back inside for any reason.

Call emergency services as soon as you are out and safe. Ask for FIRE.

Clearly state your address and let the operator know it anyone is still inside or has not made it to the safe meeting place.

Emergency call 111 Emergency text 111

Talking to your children about fire safety

E wātea ana tēnei whārangi ki te reo Māori
Tirohia ki te reo Māori

It's a good idea to talk to your children about fire safety, how to avoid starting fires, and what to do if there's a fire in your home.

Children as young as five can learn what to do in a fire emergency. This is lifelong learning that they will take into adulthood. Children also need to understand that fire can be dangerous.

Talking about what to do in an emergency

If a fire starts in a room, a person has about 3 minutes to get out before the room is engulfed in smoke or flames that will kill them.

Teach your children to get out and stay out if there's a fire. If they see a fire or hear a smoke alarm, tell them to:

  • Get out of the house FAST (using your escape plan)
  • Shout "Fire Fire Fire!"
  • Go to the safe meeting place

Talking about fire

When talking about fire, children might ask about people dying in fire emergencies. You should provide truthful answers without making the child afraid.

You can tell your child about firefighters and how they rescue people in fires. However, sometimes firefighters might not arrive in time to rescue everyone. A fire can also be burning so fiercely that it's not possible to rescue people.

That's why it's so important to have smoke alarms and an escape plan to know what to do in a fire. Remember, get out, stay out.

The Get Firewise programme

Get Firewise is an in-school programme that centres around fire safety for children. We've developed it using current best practice in teaching safety information to 5 and 6 year olds.

Many children come home excited about what they've learned in the Get Firewise programme. You can use this as an opportunity to discuss fire safety around your home.

The programme encourages families to:

  • carry out fire safety checks and prevent fires starting
  • install smoke alarms in bedrooms, hallways and living areas
  • develop escape plans that include determining two ways out of every room and establishing a family safe meeting place
  • practise getting out of all the rooms in the house and meeting at the safe meeting place

Is your child lighting fires?

Fire and Emergency New Zealand offers a free programme to assist where young people are showing an unhealthy and unsafe fascination about fire.

For more information, check out our guide to what to do if your child is starting fires.

 

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