Every year more than 3,500 Americans die in fires and another 20,000 suffer fire-related injuries, according to the United States Fire Administration, or USFA. Fires started by children account for 150 deaths and $200 million in property damage. Children are also most likely to start fires during the holiday season, a period during which fires in general increase in numbers and severity. Teaching your children about fire safety from an early age can keep them safe and protect your home.
Step 1
Keep fire safety simple with rules that are easy to remember, advises FireSafetyforKids.org. For preschool-age kids, introduce one or two rules at a time.
Step 2
Teach your child early on that fire is a tool, not a toy, recommends the USFA. Children under age five are especially curious about fire and typically play with fire in their bedroom closets, under the bed or in other secret places, states the USFA. Let your child know how dangerous fire is, including how quickly it spreads, how heat can harm him and that it creates smoke that makes breathing difficult.
Step 3
Practice prevention with your child; for instance, tell her to let you know when she finds any matches or lighters lying around. Or, demonstrate how you keep flammable objects away from the stove when you're cooking.
Step 4
Demonstrate for your child the "Stop, drop and roll" method to use in case he comes into contact with fire.
Step 5
Show your child how to crawl on the floor to stay below smoke during a fire, which makes it easier to get out of the house, advises the USFA.
Step 6
Practice fire drills at home on a quarterly basis. FireSafetyforKids.org recommends making a game of it, practicing quick escapes out of rooms in your home. Do some drills at night, the time of day when deadly fires are most likely to happen.
Step 7
Show older children how to safely operate a fire extinguisher. Your child should be strong enough to hold the extinguisher and operate it. Let her know to leave the fire if it can't be put out in 20 seconds, advises Child Care Aware.
Tips and Warnings
- Repeat your rules regularly. If you hold monthly family meetings, it's a good time to remind kids of fire safety guidelines. Allow your children to watch you testing the smoke alarms, which you should do monthly. Testing helps to familiarize your children with how the fire alarm sounds. Replace smoke alarm batteries annually. Check your child's room occasionally for matches or any clues that she's playing with fire, advises the USFA. Tell your child it's OK to go to firefighters if they come to the house to rescue the family if there's a fire.
- Keep flammable items---such as matches, lighters, fireworks, candles, lighter fluid, gasoline and paint---safely locked away.
