If you have a disability, whether permanent or temporary, it’s important to think about how you may need to respond during a fire or life safety emergency.
Talk with members of your family, neighbours or building superintendent and create an emergency plan that reflects your individual needs and abilities.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Alarm Assistance Program:
Our priority to keep you safe at home, which is why we developed the Alarm Assistance Program. This program is designed to support Burlington homeowners over the age of 65 or residents with a disability that prevents them from maintaining their home's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This program is for people with no support network or agencies available to assist.
Learn more at www.burlington.ca/AAP.
Escape planning
Have a personal escape plan that is customized to meet your needs. Talk about it with everyone at home.
Be sure that the escape plan includes roles for everyone in the household.
If you or someone you live with cannot escape alone, designate a member of the household to assist them (have a back-up plan in case the designated helper is away at the time of the emergency).
Conduct regular fire drills to determine if everyone is able to hear and respond to smoke alarms. If someone requires additional warning or uses any special assistance or devices, identify these as part of your plan.
Keep in mind, fire and life safety is everyone’s responsibility. When it comes to understanding your needs, you're the expert. Be sure to communicate any special assistance you might require to caregivers, firefighters or other first responders at the time you make your plan.
Make escape easy. Consider locating your bedroom on the ground floor near an exit, making escape easier. Make sure that smoke alarms are on every level of your home and outside of sleeping areas and carbon monoxide alarms are installed near any sleeping area. Have a phone or telecommunications device installed where you sleep and post-emergency telephone numbers in a central location and in your wallet.
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