Children and Fire Safety

7/21/2020 (Permalink)

When it comes to children, you can never prepare enough in the event of a fire. Making sure that children know what to do and what not to do can go a long way in safety.

• What a smoke alarm sounds like: Some children run and hide when an alarm sounds a house-fire warning. Making and practicing a house fire escape plan helps them respond appropriately to the alarm.
• What a firefighter looks like at a fire: Show your children with the equipment a firefighter may be wearing and/or carrying. Children may hide instead of responding to their calls.
• Escape routes: Always teach children two ways out of every room (i.e., window and door).
• Stay low during escape: Crawl as close to the floor as possible under smoke to a safe exit.
• Test the safety of their exit route: Use the back of the hand to test if a closed door is hot. If it is hot, use another way out.
• Where to meet after escape: Everyone must meet at a previously designated meeting place outside the home so that firefighters know that all persons are out of the house.
• How to call for help: Call 911 from a neighbor's home.
• Stay out: Never go back inside a burning home to get anything such as toys, clothes or pets.

These tips are a great way to ensure your children are prepared in the event you have a house fire.