Preparing for the Worst

Ever heard the phrase, “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best?” If so, you probably know that it’s best to apply this piece of wisdom to all aspects of your life. So, have you prepared your home for an emergency? In many ways, you probably have; you’ve invested in homeowners insurance, circuit breakers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. Do you have escape ladders for the rooms on the upper floors? If not, here are some reasons you should get them.

Escape Ladders – What are escape ladders and what are they for? Much like fire escapes found in big cities, escape ladders provide easy, safe, and effective escape during an emergency. Unlike fire escapes, which hang low to the ground, escape ladders can be folded up and stored inside the room to eliminate the threat of intruders. In the event of an emergency, like a fire, simply snap the ladder onto your window, let it unravel, and safely climb down to safety.

Why You Should Get One – You may argue that you don’t need a home escape ladder for a couple reasons. First you may say, “There is more than one way to access the upper floors, so I wouldn’t ever get stuck on the top floor in the event of a fire.” Or you might say, “The fire engines have ladders, so they’ll get me out if I’m trapped.” Let’s discuss these, shall we? First of all, don’t assume that you will never get trapped on the upper floors of your home. A fire can spread rapidly, and if the first floor is already consumed, it may be impossible to exit the home that way. Even if you can get to the first floor, a second-floor window exit might be the safest route. Second, don’t place all of your trust in firefighters. While they’ll do their best to fight the flames and bring you to safety, relying on them is foolish. By the time they respond to you, or your neighbors call for help, you could easily pass out from smoke inhalation. Keep a fire escape ladder in the rooms on the upper floors, get to safety, and let the fire department deal with the rest.