You may know the ABCs of fire safety, but do your kids? Fifty-seven percent of all child fire deaths occur to those four or younger. Make sure they know what to do if there's a
fire in your home. Here's a list of important
fire safety tips to go over with your kids.
Teach them to be smart
Your kids may be smart enough to stay away from an open flame (or at least you hope they are), but do they know not to touch or play with matches? If you have matches, lighters or candles laying around your home, your children could be tempted to play with them which could lead to burns and a fire.
You should also teach them to stay away from radiators, heaters, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. Installing barriers and safety gates around fireplaces is easy and effective way to keep your kids away from them.
Help get them prepared
As part of your family emergency plan, you should include a fire escape plan as well. Making sure that every member of the household knows the fire escape plan is the best way to be prepared in case of a fire emergency. Be sure to practice your fire escape plan with your children often and during different times of the day. Getting your children involved in fire safety procedures is a great way to make sure they know what to do when a fire breaks out.
When practicing your fire escape plan be sure to teach your kids how to "get low and go" if there is smoke when they are leaving the home. Have your children practice feeling the door, doorknob and cracks around the door with the back of their hand to test for heat. As a family, practice Stop, Drop and Roll together in case clothes catch fire.
REMEMBER: Firefighters wear heavy, protective uniforms and helmets when fighting fires which may be a scary sight to your child. Make sure your child knows not to run and hide from them!
Your fire escape plan should include:
- At least two ways to escape a room
- An easy-to-spot meeting place outside your home that's a safe distance away
- Designate an adult to get infants and small children out safely
In the event of a fire
Unfortunately, house fires can still occur no matter how safe you try to be. In the event of a fire, remember these things:
- Fire is fast and in as little as 30 seconds, a small flame can become out of control and turn into a major fire.
- Flames can reach temperatures of up to 100 degrees F near the floor and up to 600 degrees F at eye level. Inhaling this hot air can scorch your lungs and throat. The heat can melt clothes to your skin and in five minutes, a room can get so hot everything ignites at once.
- Fires start out bright but quickly produce black smoke and leave you in complete darkness.
- Fires are deadly! The smoke and toxic gases fires produce kill more people than the flames. The odorless, colorless carbon monoxide gas that is produced can reach you long before the flames do, lulling you into a deep sleep and you may not wake up in time to escape.
If you are unable to escape the room you're in during a house fire, close the door and try to cover vents and cracks around the doors with cloth or take to keep the smoke out then call 9-1-1. Tell them where you are and try to signal for help at a window in the room with a light-colored cloth or flashlight.