A method for signaling an escape route in a building with emergency warning units arranged in a distributed way can be realized such that the emergency warning units are equipped with luminous means that in the event of an emergency can be activated by a central emergency warning system sequentially in the manner of a running light that designates the direction of the escape route leading away from a hazard site. An emergency warning unit suitable for this purpose may include two LEDs configured as arrows facing in opposite directions, of which either can be switched into a blinking mode by the central emergency warning system in accordance with the emergency conditions.