This page also contains some excellent advice on helping your children learn and practice fire safety. Teach Your Children Fire Safety
Fire Preparedness in a home calls for common sense action, along with proper equipment. Below are several easy tips everyone can implement, excerpts from a checklist provided by the United State Fire Administration: "Is your Home Fire-Safe?"
1. Install and maintain at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home. Check the batteries once a month and replace them at least once a year. For optimum safety, add a monitored fire alarm system.
2. Plan at least two exit routes from every room. Stay low to the ground in
the event of a smoke-filled room. Agree on a fixed meeting location outside
the home where household members will gather after evacuation. Never
return to a burning building.
3. Place portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms. Never plug heaters into extension cords, and always unplug heaters when they are not being used.
4. Use only seasoned wood in wood stoves and fireplaces. Clean the interiors, hearths and chimneys regularly.
5. Do not leave food unattended on the stove. Keep curtains and other combustibles away from the stove. Make sure the stove is turned off and unplug small appliances before going to bed.
6. Replace electrical wiring if it is frayed or cracked and keep it clear of rugs, nails or high traffic areas. Do not overload outlets and make sure they stay cool to the touch.
7. Never smoke in bed, keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains and never leave a cigarette burning.
8. Children playing with matches or lighters are a leading cause of residential fires. Keep lighters and matches away from children and show them how to call for emergency assistance.
9. Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage and the workshop. Use extinguishers on small fires only, leave the premises in the event of a large fire.
Help Children Avoid House Fires Fire is the number one threat to safety of our homes and families. A fire can happen to anyone, regardless of how careful a household is or if you live in a safe neighborhood.
Fire is the number one threat to safety of our homes and families. A fire can happen to anyone, regardless of how careful a household is or if you live in a safe neighborhood.No one thinks it will happen to them, but consider this: Children playing with matches or lighters are a leading cause of home fires and one in which the children and others present are often hurt. In fact, one-fourth of all fire deaths of children are from fires started by children.
When teaching children about fire, show them how to avoid a fire and respond to a fire. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) offers these tips to parents and children for prevention and preparedness:
1. Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked place. Make sure children understand the dangers involved in playing with matches and lighters.
2. Never leave young children at home alone. Even if matches or lighters are unavailable, there are many other ways to start an accidental fire in a home (e.g., attempts at cooking, use of a heater or electrical appliance in the wrong way).
3. Teach children how to respond in case their clothing catches fire: Stop, Drop and Roll. See more information below.
4. Before opening a door in a fire, feel it first. If it is hot there may be fire on the other side -- do not open the door. Try to get out another way.
5. Create and practice an exit plan in the event of a fire. Help children find at least two ways out of every room in the home. Teach them to stay low to the ground. Pick an easy-to-remember, safe place outside to meet the family upon evacuation.
6. Once you're out, stay out. Emphasize to your children the importance of not returning to a burning building.
7. After safely exiting a home, call 9-1-1 or another emergency number from a neighbor's phone.
8. Install smoke alarms and keep them in working order.
WHAT SHOULD I TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT FIRE SAFETY? Show children pictures of fire fighters or visit a fire station to help ease children's fears. A fire suit and a mask can be frightening, and children may try to hide from a fire fighter in full protective gear.
Show children pictures of fire fighters or visit a fire station to help ease children's fears. A fire suit and a mask can be frightening, and children may try to hide from a fire fighter in full protective gear.Make sure children know what your smoke alarm sounds like.
Make sure everyone knows how to dial 911 in an emergency.Discuss the importance of not stopping to look for pets or possessions before escaping the fire.Teach children never to reenter the house after they have escaped and never to hide inside the house if there is a fire.Make sure they clearly understand the exit routes, safety precautions and the importance of the meeting location.WHAT IS "STOP, DROP AND ROLL? It is extremely important to know what to do if your clothes catch on fire as you are trying to escape. Never run. It will increase the oxygen getting to the fire and speed the burning. Instead, follow these steps:
It is extremely important to know what to do if your clothes catch on fire as you are trying to escape. Never run. It will increase the oxygen getting to the fire and speed the burning. Instead, follow these steps:Stop - Do not run or stand up if your clothes are on fire.
Drop - Keep calm, and quickly drop to the ground.
Roll - Cover your face with your hands and smother the flames by rolling over and over until the fire is out.
If you see someone else on fire, roll the victim in a coat, blanket or rug. The principle is the same: Smother the flames to put out the fire.