Children are never too young to learn about fire safety. From learning how to stay safe inside their home to learning how to escape safely to the outside of their home, it’s crucial that children learn the importance of fire safety. We have the best practices to protect your kids from fire danger.
Make An Escape Plan
The most important thing to do in case of a fire is to know how to safely get out of your house. Many children will need help. They’ll be scared and disoriented during a fire. Often, children will try to hide from the fire. Draw an outline of your home and teach them about an escape route. After you show them on paper, practice what would happen in the event of a fire.
Make sure you teach your children two ways of out each room. They may need to exit through a window or a door if something is blocked. Always designate a meeting location outside of the home. They should know what to do if they cannot find an adult in the home. Help practice with them how to get out and safely get to your meeting location. Tell them it is important that they never go back into your home when it is on fire.
Smoke Alarms
Fifty percent ofhome fire deaths happen when people are asleep. They might not hear a smoke alarm or it did not go off. It is crucial to make sure your smoke alarms are in working order.
You should install these smoke alarms outside every common area and every bedroom. There should be at least one smoke alarm on every level.
You should test these smoke alarms each month. Always change the batteries at least twice a year. You should replace the entire smoke alarm every decade. Here is a good overview all about smoke alarms.
Help Keep Your Child From Starting A Fire
The U.S. Fire Administration states that about 300 people are killed each year because children were playing with fire. Teach children the safety guidelines to follow regarding the fire. Always keep lighters and matches in a secure location. Children should not be able to reach any type of ignitable substance. Teach them that it’s never safe to play with matches. They should always stay at least three feet away from lighters or matches.
Kids Pajamas
Always look at the label of the pajamas your children wear to sleep. These should be flame-retardant. Sleepwear that is close-fitting is always best to wear in case of fire.
Careful With Candles
Children should never be left unattended with a candle burning. It’s best to use flameless candles around the home. If you’re going to burn a candle, make sure you blow it out when you leave the area. When you light a candle, it is also best to run your match under water before you throw it away. This will ensure the match will not ignite in your trash can.
Plugs
Electronic devices are often at your child’s side at all times. It’s important to teach children the importance of not plugging too many of these devices into one outlet. Many times people use extension cords and power strips to plug in and charge these devices. This can be a fire hazard over time. Tell them to always unplug their devices when they are not in use.
Leave Belongings
A child may want to bring all of their stuffed animals and toys, but it’s important to help them understand they need to get out first. It’s crucial to tend to humans and pets before worrying about your belongings. Help a child understand that things can be replaced. A human life is much more important than any belonging in your home.
Stop, Drop, And Crawl
The flames aren’t always the most harmful thing during a fire. The smoke and heat can overtake a young child quickly. Teach them that a house fire may reach 100 degrees on the ground, but will often reach above 600 degrees near the ceiling. This means it is best to drop to the ground. You can then crawl to the exit. You should cover your nose with clothing or a towel.
Test Doorknobs
If there is a fire in your home, teach kids that should not walk into a room without first touching a doorknob. If the doorknob is hot, the room might be engulfed with flames. Open doors may also lead to an increased airflow allowing the fire to spread.
Don’t Panic
Children and adults should remain as calm as possible during a fire. Calm down and focus on getting out of the room safely. Call 911 as soon as possible. It’s important to remain calm for the kids so they focus on your actions.
Teaching children about what to do in case of a fire is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. They need to know this is a real thing that can happen. They can work to prevent fires in the home while also getting out of the home in case of a fire.
