We are aware of how important it is to have a Fire Safety Plan, which includes having two ways to exit from every room in your home, regularly tested smoke detectors, and a meeting place for your family. But how does that plan differ when there are more babies than adults? What if you are alone with 3, 4, 5 or more babies?
Although prevention is vital, a good place to start when planning your strategy is proactive preparation. Most experts agree that you have less than 3 minutes to exit a burning building, which is not enough time for multiple trips. So the best way is to carry everyone out in one trip, which seems easier said than done. Here are a few ideas that make it possible:
The Big Grab Method:
For co-bedded infants, who are usually snuggled together anyway, you can probably reach your arms around from either end and grab them all. They may wake up and be upset that they are squished against their siblings, but at least they will be safe. I know I had no problem picking up three babies with this method and I have pretty short arms.
Laundry Basket Method:
If there is a laundry basket nearby, which there most likely will be, dump out the clothes and fill it with babies. Drag or push the basket down the hall to stay below any smoke. If you are on the second floor, back yourself down the stairs sliding the basket of babies down as you go.
Blanket/Sleeping Bag Method:
Keep a large thick blanket, sleeping bag or towel in the sleeping area. (Fire blankets are available for purchase commercially, but any thick blanket will do.) The goal would be to provide some insulation from any smoke or fire gases. For very small infants you can spread the blanket on the floor, lay all the babies next to or on top of each other, and wrap the blanket up around both sides. Hold both ends at the top, like a “bundle” hanging from the mouth of a stork. If you have a sleeping bag with a strong zipper you can just “fill the bag with babies,” close the top and off you go. If you need to go down stairs and they are too heavy to carry, just drag the bundle down the stairs. The kids might end up a little bumped and bruised, but they will be alive. As soon as you are in fresh air, remove the babies so they can breathe normally.
Bail Out/Relay Method:
As soon as you open the window start screaming for help, hopefully someone will hear you and come running to help shuttle babies away from danger.
If you are alone, think of this as a relay. Open the window and start placing babies on the ground. Most 0-6 month olds can’t roll or crawl away yet so they will stay where you place them. First you get the babies all out of the window, then yourself, and then start moving them away from the house.
Sling Method:
If your nursing sling or carrier is close by, you can put a baby or two in the sling and have your hands free for carrying other babies or directing another child out. Be careful not to spend too much time getting babies situated in the carrier. Remember: In the case of a fire, you only have 3 minutes to escape, so if it takes you 5 minutes to put on and adjust your sling, you will need another method.
Apron Method:
Commercially there are “apron-like” garments designed specifically for evacuating large numbers of babies. Many hospitals and day care centers have these. Safe Babies® infant emergency evacuation apron is one product that can carry up to four babies.
Stroller Method:
Of course a stroller can be the quickest mode of transportation, but there are very limited circumstances where this is an option. How many of us keep a stroller near the bedroom? Also, in the case of a fire, you should never use an elevator, so you could be in for a bumpy ride. But if you are on the first floor and the stroller is close, don’t overlook the obvious. Throw them in and roll as fast as you can to safety.
You can always combine methods or make up your own. The most important things is to make sure everyone gets out, and once you are all out, don’t go back in for anything. Here are some other important points to remember when working towards the goal of getting everyone out in one trip:
· Coordinate your escape plan with your local fire departments. Most can help you make a family fire escape plan, and may even come out to your home to do a fire safety check. It is also a good idea to communicate with the firehouse that would respond to your home by letting them know how many babies you have. That way, should the worst happen, they will come prepared with extra pediatric equipment, and they would also know how many babies need to get out.
· If you have babies that require medical equipment, work that into your plan. Carrying multiple pieces of equipment may not be realistic so, if your babies are attached to monitors, oxygen, or feeding tubes, know what you can do without for a few minutes and how to quickly disconnect to escape. When the ambulance arrives, paramedics can take over to monitor/stabilize breathing and heart rates and transport your child(ren) to a medical facility with the proper equipment you had to leave behind. Medical equipment can be replaced, a child cannot.
· Make sure to prepare the older children for an independent escape. It is easy for a parent to be distracted with smaller children who are not able to help themselves escape. So make sure you teach your older children how to escape on their own and not to worry about helping you. Children as young as 3 can follow a fire escape plan they have practiced often. Regimented fire drills are a good way to keep preschool children and toddlers prepared.
· If you are in a two-parent household, run your fire drill three ways: With Mom Only, With Dad Only, and with Both Parents. It’s important to prepare for every possible situation.
· Ideally, every door should be escapable without a key, but eventually, babies become toddlers that you may have to lock them in the house to keep them from escaping without your knowledge. If you have doors that must be opened with a key, KEEP A KEY BY EACH DOOR and REPLACE IT AFTER EACH USE, you don’t want to have to look for the key in a life or death situation. Hang it on a hook out of the reach of the little ones.
· Remember to reassess your practice drills as the children get older. The bigger they grow the harder they are to carry, so you may need to adjust your plan. The exit routes in your home will also change with the addition of baby gates, locked doors and toys, toys, everywhere. Continued practice is key.
We all hope we will never have to use our escape plan, but it is comforting to know that you have an current Exit Strategy in place at all times.
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