Walk your fire escape route, test every exit key, and agree a meeting point in one short session.
ESC-01Pick a time and tell the householdChoose a calm moment, not a rushed morning. Tell everyone living in the property that you're doing a quick fire escape check, so nobody's confused if you're testing doors and windows.
ESC-02Walk the route from every room to the nearest exitStarting in each bedroom and the living room, walk the path you'd actually take out in a fire, in the dark if you can manage it safely. Note anywhere the route is narrow, blocked, or relies on a torch to see keys or locks.
ESC-03Check your front and back doors open without a struggleTry the main door and any back or side door. Check the handle, latch and any deadlock move smoothly and the door isn't sticking or swollen. A door that jams normally will jam worse in a panic.
ESC-04Test every key that locks an exit doorTurn each key in its lock from both sides. If a door needs a key to open from the inside, make sure that exact key is easy to find in the dark, not buried in a bag or another room. If a key is stiff, worn, or hard to turn, get it replaced or the lock serviced.
ESC-05Check upstairs windows work as a second escape routeIf any bedroom is upstairs, open its window fully and check nothing blocks it, like a bulky wardrobe or fitted shutters. If the window has a locking handle, check the key for it is kept on the windowsill or nearby, never in a different room.
ESC-06Fit key hooks by every exit doorPut a hook or small bowl right beside each exit door and always keep that door's key there. This stops anyone fumbling through drawers or coat pockets if there's smoke or it's dark.
ESC-07Clear clutter from hallways, stairs and exitsMove shoes, boxes, bikes or bins away from hallways, the stairs and anywhere near a door or window you'd use to escape. Keep this clear as an ongoing habit, not just for today's check.
ESC-08Test smoke alarms along the routePress the test button on every smoke alarm you pass on the route and listen for the beep. If any alarm is silent, weak, or older than 10 years, replace the battery or the whole unit. This is a quick check, not a full alarm service.
ESC-09Agree a meeting point and talk it through with everyonePick a spot outside, well away from the building, such as a specific gate or lamppost. Tell everyone in the household this is where they go after getting out, so you can quickly check everyone's safe.
ESC-10Note what needs fixing and set a recheck reminderWrite down anything that failed the check, like a stiff lock or a missing window key, and sort it out that week. Set a reminder on your phone to redo this whole check in six months.