Family Fire Safety Tips

Parents have different ideas about how to introduce the idea of an emergency to their children. As with many serious subjects, lighthearted conversations often work best for that initial introduction—and fire safety is one of those topics. One approach to take is as you teach your children that the stove is hot so they shouldn’t touch it, also explain that a fire in the fireplace is hot. So is a bonfire where you roast marshmallows, and if that fire happens in your house, it will be hot too.

Making them aware is a first step. Next come taking steps to minimize fire risk in your home and teaching children to avoid starting a fire. The U.S. Fire Administration warns of a grim figure: 300 people are killed and $280 million in property is destroyed each year as the result of children playing with fire. Here are some valuable tips to tamp down on fire danger:

• Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of your child’s reach. Only use lighters with child-resistant features.
• Buy flameless candles. These contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, so if your child knocks it off the table, there is no problem.
• Smoke alarms are a must on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Be sure to check them by pushing the test button and replace those batteries once a year.
• Show your children what the smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

With safety tactics engaged, develop a fire escape plan for your family. You can make the process a party—pop popcorn and encourage each family member to come up with ideas. For example, ask your son what the best way to leave the house is … is it down the stairs or out the window? Let each youngster help identify two ways to escape from any room of your home. Make sure the family picks a place to meet up outside too.

Then practice your fire escape several times a year at different times of the day. Tell the kids, “Don’t hide, go outside!” Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside—and make sure everyone knows how to dial 911.

Another critical step is to make sure children understand they must get out and stay out and wait for firefighters. Help them understand that even if a family member, pet or special teddy bear is still inside, they must not run into a burning house.

Use quick-release devices on barred windows and doors, as security bars without them can trap you inside. Practice opening windows and pushing the screen out. Another thing I actually did with my own kiddos was to buy escape ladders for their sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Teach kids how to use them, then store the collapsible ladders near the windows.

Show your children how to check doors to see whether they are hot, and if they are, how to find another way out. Fire safety for children includes having them find a towel or other cloth to use for handling, touching or grabbing items to avoid burns, and use the towel or cloth to protect their faces and cover their mouths. If both ways out of the room are blocked, kids should get as low as possible on their tummies, near the bed. That is where firefighters will look for them. Remember to practice the stop, drop and roll move with your kids too!

A house or apartment fire is a frightening and disorienting thing. Have children practice feeling their way out of the home in the dark or with their eyes closed. You can turn this into a game. One at a time, blindfold your children and ask them to feel their way to a certain area. Set up an obstacle course and you provide clues and help along the way. When they reach a designated endpoint, they’ll find a special treat awaiting. This can simply be having a picnic outside!

Another fun idea is to sing fire escape songs to reinforce the need to get out of a burning building. For example, sing these words to the tune of “Frere Jacques”: There’s a fire! There’s a fire! Must get out! Must get out! Stay away from fire! Stay away from fire! It is hot. It is hot.

Or be creative and choose your child’s favorite song, such as one from Cars, Blue’s Clues or Toy Story. Come up with the song and new lyrics together!

Consider incorporating Alexa into the mix by asking for Pedro’s Fire Safety Challenge. This fun and engaging interactive game created by the Red Cross for kids ages 4 to 8 teaches age-appropriate skills for handling a home fire emergency and other stressful situations. Pedro the penguin guides children through a set of activities and topics, including home fire safety, coping skills and good old-fashioned penguin fun. At the end of the challenge, children earn a fire safety badge.

Remember, you are your child’s best teacher, and your little ones will remember what you say when you repeat it and assure them their home is the safest space for them to grow up. Don’t frighten them, just prepare them.

Sources: RedCross.org, VeryWellFamily.com.