A house fire can destroy your home and possessions---and it can be fatal. Kids and older adults are most at risk, the U.S. Fire Administration warns, with either preschoolers or those 65 or older accounting for nearly half the house fire victims. Teaching your family about fire safety can help keep everyone alive.
Prevention
Preventing a fire in the first place is a key point to make with your family. Keep any matches, lighters and lighting devices, like those for grills or candles, out of children's reach. Caution your kids to never touch or play with lighting devices, flammable liquids like kerosene, or to stick anything in electrical devices, like the toaster or electrical outlets. Secure safety covers on outlets in homes with toddlers and very young kids. Warn kids to stay far from the fire place and other places with open flames. Never let them operate electrical appliances on their own without your supervision.
Stop, Drop and Roll
The Stop, Drop and Roll drill remains a catchy way for kids to learn what to do if they or their clothes catch fire, the U.S. Fire Administration notes. Teach it to your own family. Kids first stop running, which many are inclined to do if they are on fire. They then drop to the ground and roll, with their hands covering the faces, so the rolling motion quashes the flames.
Escape Plan
If a fire does break out in your home, make sure everyone knows how to escape safely and quickly. The U.S. Fire Administration says to point out at least two exits for every room and to enforce leaving the house as fast as possible, leaving possessions behind. Make sure your kids know to stay low to avoid smoke inhalation and touch a door before opening it to check if a fire is burning behind it, which means they'll want an alternate exit. Set up a meeting place outside, far enough from the house so no one gets burned. Call 911 after you're out, from a neighbor's house, and don't go back inside for any reason.
Fire Drills
Once you've outlined a plan on what to do in case of fire, practice it. Kids Health advises surprise fire drills as a way to reinforce and improve your escape plan. At least twice a year, activate a smoke detector without anyone being prepared to see how your family's escape plan falls into place. Set a time limit of three minutes for everyone to get outside and meet in your designated spot. Kids Health says three minutes is the same rate in which a fire can fully engulf your home.
Considerations
A few more points to note helps round out your family's fire safety plan. Even the smartest and most trustworthy children can inadvertently start fires, so don't leave youngsters home alone. Kids also get scared or confused during a fire and want to hide beneath the bed, in a closet or other area. Make sure they know, no matter how scared they are, the safest thing to do is get out.
