Parents:
The best way to teach children about fire safety is by example. Let your children see you being sensible and careful about cooking, candles, smoking and other potential fire risks.
Fire and Children:
Fires in the home kill dozens of children every year, accounting for nearly half of all accidental child deaths. Children are naturally drawn to warmth and light of fire, but without the proper guidance this can turn into a dangerous fascination. Children under the age of 10 cause 6,000 fires a year.
Talking to your children about fire:
Younger children should be given clear instructions of what they should and shouldn't do, whereas with children of five and above it is better to explain why. All children should know that it is never safe to play with fire.
Teaching your children simple rules will help protect them against fire. Tell them:
- never play with matches or lighters
- never play with a lighted candle
- never play close to a fire or a heater, or leave toys near a fire or heater
- don't pull on electric cables or play with electrical appliances or sockets
- never switch on the stove
- never put anything on top of the stove
- don't touch any pots on the stove
- don't put things on top of heaters or lights
- if they see matches or lighters lying around - tell a grown up
Fire instructions for children:
It's important to talk through with children what to do if there's a fire. Don't avoid it for fear of frightening them. Children need to know the basics of how to react, because there may not be an adult around to tell them what to do if a fire happens. Here are the basic instructions to give to your children:
- if they see smoke of flames, they should tell someone immediately - a grown up if possible
- get out of the building as soon as possible
- never go back into the building for anything - fire fighters can search the house for anything left behind quicker and more safely (70 to 75% of the time a person goes back into a house fire to get something-they never return.)
- if there is smoke, crawl along the floor where the air is cleanest
- if the escape route is blocked, go into a room with a window, put bedding or towels at the bottom of the door to block the smoke, open the window and call for help
- never hide in a closet or under a bed - get out of the house and call for help immediately
- find a phone and dial 911, give the address slowly and calmly
You should always make sure that children know their address so they can raise the alarm.
Know your escape route:
Plan an escape route and make sure that everyone in the house, including children, caretakers, and babysitters, are familiar with it. Keep all exits clear and practice the escape plan with children.
Make your home safe for children:
Here are some measures you can take in your home to make sure your children stay out of harm's way:
- don't leave children on their own in a room where there's a fire risk
- keep matches, lighters, candles and tea lights in a place where children cannot see or reach them
- put a child-proof fire guard in front of an open fire or heater
- don't let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater
- put child locks on cupboards containing anything that could be used to start a fire (for example, matches, candles and flammable liquids)
- keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can't be knocked over where they are being used or stored
- keep you fire escape route clear of toys and other obstructions
- never leave children alone in the kitchen when you're cooking and never let them play near the stove
- put plug guards into sockets so children can't stick anything into the holes
- make sure electrical appliances in childrens' bedrooms are switched off at night
Take care and stay safe!
Greenfield Fire Department
