Each year, $200 million in damage and 150 deaths can be attributed to children playing with fire, notes the U.S. Fire Administration. Teaching your child fire prevention and safety at home could literally mean the difference between life and death. Make fire safety planning and practice part of how you spend time together as a family, so your children are prepared in the event of a fire emergency. Establishing family escape plans, practicing techniques and identifying fire hot spots are important aspects of learning fire safety.
Step 1
Draw a rough sketch of your house plan on a sheet of poster board, suggests the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With your kids on hand, create an emergency exit plan to use in case of a fire. Each room should have two exits, either through doors or windows. Practice your escape plan with fire drills so your children are comfortable exiting the house in an emergency situation. Designate outside your house a safe meeting place as part of the plan.
Step 2
Show your children some of the dangerous places in your home by going on a home tour together. Go into rooms like the kitchen or basement, and point out places where a fire could start. Talk about safety in the kitchen concerning the use of the stove or oven and that they should not play with matches or lighters found around the house. Make your kids aware of the places in your home where a fire could start.
Step 3
Check the smoke alarms in your home with your kids present, suggests website Kids Health. Talk about the importance of smoke alarms and what your kids should do if they wake in the night because they hear the alarms. Tell your kids that Daylight Savings Time could be designated as the time of year the family changes the batteries in the smoke alarms. They can try to remember this and in the future remind you about it if necessary.
Step 4
Practice various techniques involved in fire safety at home. Talk about treating burns and how to stop, drop and roll, notes the U.S. Fire Administration. By allowing your kids to practice, you can be confident that in the event of an emergency, they will keep cool heads and remember the techniques they've learned. While you may feel silly demonstrating how to roll on the floor in case clothes are burning, it could save your kids' lives.
Step 5
Utilize online resources that help your kids learn about fire safety at home. Both FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration have websites for kids that have games and tips about fire safety.
Things You'll Need
- Poster board
- Markers
