PREVENTION AND FIRE SAFETY MEASURES
Firefighters visit your child’s school yearly to teach your kids about fire safety. Just like the ABC’s and counting, you need to practice the fire safety tips your kids learn at school. It can be a very scary thing for kids but this information could save their lives or even yours.
CALL 911
By teaching your child to call 911 in an emergency you are giving them the power to possibly save a life. Teach them that when they call 911, a dispatcher will ask them:
- “What is your name?”
- “Where do you live?”
- “What is the problem?”
It is not a game. It is only used in case of a emergency:
- If someone is sick or hurt.
- If there is smoke or fire.
- If someone is threatening you or your family.
- Other situations or circumstances that require assistance.
If you dial 911, a emergency response team will come to your house.
STOP, DROP AND ROLL
Does your child know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches on fire?
- Stop where you are.
- Drop to the ground and cover your eyes and mouth with your hands.
- Roll over and over and back and forth until the flames are out.
MAKE AN ESCAPE PLAN
It is important to have a plan when there are children in your home. Children sometimes need help getting out of the house. They may not know how to escape or what to do unless an adult shows them.
Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. You will need to wake babies and very young children and help them get out. In your plan, talk about who will help each child get out safely.
It is important to plan two ways out of every room in your home, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use.
Choose a meeting place outside of your home. Preferably not close to the street. The firefighters and police will be coming and you don’t want to be to close to the road. Children should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm, whether you are around or not. Practice going to the outside meeting place with them. If the alarm goes off accidentally don’t just brush it off. Use that opportunity to take them outside to the meeting place.
KEEP CHILDREN SAFE FROM FIRE AND BURNS – DON’T PLAY WITH MATCHES
Some children are curious about fire. There are simple steps you can take to keep you and the people you love safe from fire and burns:
- Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot. Space heaters and stove-tops can cause terrible burns. Keep children at least 3 feet away from stoves, heaters or anything that gets hot.
- Keep smoking materials locked up in a high place. Never leave cigarette lighters or matches where children can reach them.
- Never play with lighters or matches when you are with your children. Children may try to do the same things they see you do.
STAY LOW AND GO!
Smoke rises. The heat and bad air is up near the ceiling. So when there is smoke in the home we all need to stay near the floor in the good air. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl to the nearest exit.
GET OUT AND STAY OUT!
One of the most important things to teach your kids is that once they are out of the house NEVER GO BACK INTO A BURNING BUILDING!
Too many times a child will get out and go back in to get a favorite toy, a family pet, or even to look for mom or dad.
Explain to them that they should never go back inside. Stay at your meeting place. Mom, dad, a policeman or a firefighter will be there to help them.