What is Operation EDITH ?
EDITH stands for Exit Drills In The Home.

Three Key Question To Remember
• How would you and your family get out of your home if there were a fire?
• How would they escape from the second or third floor?
• What would you do after everyone is out of the house?

Burlington Fire wants all kids and adults to know 2 WAYS OUT of every room in your home.

How to do my own EDITH plan ?
1. First you must have a plan.
Burlington Fire wants every member of the family involved in developing your own Operation EDITH Plan.

2. Appoint a Fire Chief.
The Fire Chief can be your father, mother, teen-aged brother or sister, or even the babysitter.

3. The family visits each bedroom and picks 2 WAYS OUT- one the normal way out and the emergency route, through a different door or window.

4. Plan how each member of the family can reach the ground using the emergency route.

5. Decide on a meeting place outside the house such as near the mailbox or driveway.

6. Draw a picture of each floor in your home. Show where the rooms, doors, windows, and halls are. Then color the regular escape routes black and the emergency routes red. Copies should be placed where everyone can see them and be reminded of what to do in a fire emergency. (Burlington Fire has provided downloadable Escape Route Eamples and Blank pages)

Forms are in both Word and Adobe PDF format

Sample Escape Route Plans:
  Sample Escape Route.doc
  Sample Escape Route.pdf

Blank Escape Route Form:
  Escape Route.doc
  Escape Route.pdf

Steps To Practice Your Operation EDITH Plan

Here's how to start:
1. Everyone decides what the "signal" will be to start the drill.

2. Everyone takes their place in their own bedroom.

3. The "Chief" gives the signal and the drill begins!

4. Another family member repeats the signal.

5. Everyone then closes the doors between their rooms and the main exit.

6. Each person checks their emergency exit.

7. Everyone leaves the house.

8. The "Chief" brings the family together again. He/she stresses the importance of being calm, closing doors, and testing doors to closed rooms for heat before opening them.

9. Review the EDITH picture that you drew of your house with 2 WAYS OUT of each room. Check with everyone to make sure that they are the best ways out. Double check! Make sure the copies of the EDITH picture are where everyone can see them.