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.

Children's nightwear advice

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Children in New Zealand have been badly burned or even killed because their nightwear has caught on fire.

You can help keep your child safe by choosing nightwear that has a low fire danger, and by teaching them to be safe around heaters and open fires.

Fire risk labels

No clothes are fireproof, however, there are things you can look for when choosing safe nightwear for your child.

All children’s nightwear is legally required to have a fire-risk label on it. These labels indicate the level of risk that the item will catch on fire.

  • Red label: High fire danger, either because the nightwear is of a flammable material or loose-fitting.
  • White label: Low fire danger, because the garment is made of a more fire resistant material like wool blends or designed to be close-fitting.

Where possible, choose white label nightwear that fits snugly. Baggy or loose nightwear can catch fire more easily.

If you're using or buying second-hand nightwear, assume it's not heat or flame resistant - whether the nightwear has a fire risk label or not.

Around the heater or fire

Children should stay at least 1 metre away from any heaters or open fires.

If a child is wearing high fire danger nightwear they should stay far away from the fire or heater. But even a ‘low danger’ label doesn’t mean there is no danger. Nightwear that says ‘low fire danger’ can still catch fire if the child is too close.

Put safety guards around the heater or fire if there are going to be young children in the house. Teach your children the ‘metre from the heater’ rule and watch that they don’t sit or walk closer than a metre to the heater or fire.