Many families live in two story homes today or in apartment complexes as smaller lots and lack of space in many cities cause the real estate market to cram residential homes into small spaces. Living in a multistory building can save you a lot of money if you live in the city suburbs, but many homeowners overlook proper safety equipment when it comes to family that lives on the second floor. For proper safety you want a fire escape ladder on the second floor.



In addition to a fire escape ladder on the second floor of your home it is also a good idea to have an emergency preparedness kit on each floor. This way you are prepared should an emergency cut off access to any area of your home. Consider the fact that if you only have one emergency system then you will be trapped should that area be cut off by a fire. Instead have multiple points for emergency equipment such as extinguishers, lights and escape ladders so you will have a way to get out no matter where the fire starts.

The best way to prevent injury or death during a fire in your home is proper planning. Be sure you write down your plan and then read over it carefully to see if you are missing anything. The first part of your plan should have an adequate number of escape ladders, extinguishers, lighting, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home or at the very least in every room that a person sleeps in.

It is important that you test and check each safety item at least once a year in order to make sure you are properly prepared. If possible it is best to check each item twice a year. An easy way to remember is by checking your safety supplies each time you change daylight savings in both the spring and fall.

Fire escape ladders have saved countless lives of those who live in upstairs rooms, especially when fires break out in the middle of the night. Certain areas of a home can not be accessed during a fire due to the danger presented by both smoke and fire. It can be difficult for individuals to jump from a second story window even when their lives are at stake. A fire escape ladder provides people with a safe and quick exit from a second story window.

Just having a fire escape ladder for your family is only the first step. You also want to show everyone in your family how to properly use the fire escape ladder at least once a year to make sure it is fresh in everyones mind. If you do not do things often people will forget how to do them and then during an emergency people will tend to panic and this doesn't help memory. Once a year it is important to practice how to lower a fire escape ladder and how to climb down it. This will also help your family to be calm should the need to use a fire escape ladder during an emergency arise.