Even the most prepared homeowner sometimes overlooks an obvious safety device -- an emergency ladder.

Lightweight, foldable aluminum ladders stow under beds and provide addition means of exit from the room, in case the fire blocks the primary escape path. Each occupied bedroom on the second story or above should have its own ladder.

To deploy the ladder, first close the door to the room. Open the window, and hook the ladder over the sill. Lower the ladder, and carefully climb down. Once out of the house, head to your family's meeting spot.

As with all fire-escape planning, your family should practice occasionally. Check that the window opens and closes easily -- an emergency is no time to discover the window has been nailed shut. Make sure everyone in your household knows how -- and when -- to use their ladder. And ensure your children realize the escape ladder is a tool, not a toy.