Fire Safety & Kids

Unfortunately, children are often the victims of home fires. This tragedy is one that can be prevented by providing fire safety lessons at home. Create a fire safety plan with your children and teach them about fire safety to increase their chances of escaping a house fire with their lives.

Teaching Children about Fire Safety

• Designate an official meeting place outside of the home in the event of the fire. A meeting place could be at your mailbox or a neighbor’s driveway. Make sure you children know at least two ways out of the home.
• Conduct regular fire drills at home. Consider turning fire drills into a game to help take away any feelings of anxiety, particularly in younger children. Additionally, practice fire drills at night, the time most fires occur.
• Clearly post emergency numbers near every telephone in the home.
• Test your smoke alarms on a monthly basis with your children.
• Keep your lessons about fire safety simple, especially with younger children.
• Take advantage of teachable moments. Reinforce lessons you have taught your children about fires whenever the opportunities present themselves, like in a book or a news story. Encourage your children to share what they would do in a similar situation.
• Be a good example for your children regarding fire safety.

Every year there is a National Fire Prevention Week to lift attention for these questions. If you have not created a fire safety plan with your family, this week is the perfect time.

Learn more about emergency planning for the whole family.

[photo: Alex Miroshnichenko]