subject: Fire Safety For Children - An Often Forgot About Challenge [print this page] Fire safety is a topic that may be overlooked even by protective parents who continuously stress about immunizations, holding hands when crossing the street, not talking to strangers, turning in homework on time, and not drinking too much soda or watching too much. After all, who plans on having their home catch on fire?
Most people just expect the fire alarms to do their job, and rely on the public school system to teach about fire safety. Don't be fooled into a false sense of security. Let us help ensure your children are safe and we can start by giving you tips on how to teach your children to be safe in case of fire.
First, you can help make your home safe by doing the following:
1. Don't leave matches and lighters where children can reach.
2. Don't leave fires, even small ones like candles, unattended.
3. Teach your kids to not touch these things or the stove.
4. Have your children close their doors at night; this prevents the spread of fire.
5. Install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Test them monthly. Teach your kids when they hear that, it means there is danger in the house, and they need to evacuate ASAP.
6. Change the smoke alarm batteries every 6 months.
Next, you can teach your children how to best react to a fire. If there's a fire, DON'T HIDE, GO OUTSIDE! Even though it may seem like a good idea to hide under the bed or in the closet when there is a fire, it can still "find" them, and they need to leave the house to be safe.
When escaping, FALL AND CRAWL. Practice with your kids and teach them it is easier to breathe if they are low to the ground. Use the back of your hand to check to see if a door is hot before you open it. If it is, try to find another way to escape.
If your clothes are on fire, STOP, DROP, AND ROLL. Don't run, as that will make the fire spread over your body and burn faster. Shout for help. Make an escape plan with two ways out of each bedroom and practice it together. That way, your kids will know two ways to escape if one is blocked. Make sure the screens and windows aren't stuck and your kids can move them easily. Have regular fire drills.
Have a meeting place so you will know everyone is safe. Teach your children to NEVERgo back into a burning building, but to tell the firefighters if someone is missing; they have the proper clothing and equipment to rescue people much more safely. Also, teach them that firefighters are their friends, even though they might look scary. Make sure everyone knows the local emergency numbers, and choose someone to leave the meeting place to call the fire department from a neighbors house.
by: Sebastian AtSea
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