Children should never be allowed to operate a fire extinguisher. Escape Ladders Escape ladders can be very important if your house has more than one story or if you live above the ground floor of an apartment building. You should have one escape ladder in each upper-story bedroom that is occupied by a person who is capable of using it. Like fire extinguishers, escape ladders should be operated by adults only. The length of the ladder must be appropriate.
Many ladders are too short to reach a fourth-story window.
The ladder must support the weight of the heaviest adult in the house. To increase your family's chances of escaping a fire without injury, you'll need to do some preparation ahead of time. This means teaching your kids how to escape injury, creating a plan for escape, and holding regular fire drills. These tips are critical in helping your child escape injury in a fire, and they are useful whether a child is at home or in school. Even preschool children may be able to understand and follow these instructions.