Your home is equipped with the necessary precautions for a fire, but if you don’t have one already then make sure to get a smoke detector installation as soon as possible. However, the smoke detectors and fire extinguishers aren’t always enough to keep your children prepared. Teaching your children and equipping your family with safety knowledge about fire hazards is important. Your children will then know how to react if a fire sparks within your home.
Knowing Your Home’s Fire Hazards
One of the most common places for fire hazards occur in your home is in the kitchen. Children should first learn about cooking safely. If you have younger children, it’s important to teach them that if the stove is hot they should keep away from it when it’s in use. When your children are older and ready to learn to cook, then you can instruct them further on individual appliance safety and how to handle cooking fires.
Another major source of home fires is matches. Matches can easily be strike and start a fire. Even young children at the age of two can start a fire if they get their hands-on matches. Be sure to keep your matches and lighters safely tucked away. Lock them up too. Also, teach your children to not pick up matches or lighters if they find them.
Other hazards to teach your children about:
- Aerosol cans – These cans can explode if placed near heating sources, such as stoves and radiators.
- Candles – Candles can start fires if placed near flammable materials. The hot wav can burn skin. Never let any children light candles. Make sure you get in the habit of blowing out any candles before leaving a room.
- Christmas trees – Live Christmas trees dry out and are considered highly flammable.
- Electrical cords – Fraying cords can easily ignite a fire. Show children hot to recognize these kinds of cords.
- Iron – An iron standing on end can be hot. Inform children to stay away when it is.
- Lamps – Paper or cloth over a lamp can start a fire.
Stop, Drop, and Roll!
Teaching the important safety move—Stop, drop, and Roll—can prevent serious burns if their clothes become on fire. You can demonstrate this safety move and make it a fun activity. Make sure they demonstrate the steps to you. Remind them to cover their face and mouth!
Make It Fun
A good way to get children involved in fire safety is by making practice fun. A fire drill every few months can get the children interested with the change in routine.
You can start with drill by doing the following:
- Start with a smoke alarm so children can recognize the beep as an early warning sign to fire.
- Have them follow an evacuation plan
- Make sure they know the safety spot to meet outside the house
Knowing How to Call 911
Children who are older who understand how to use a telephone need to be taught how to call 911 at the first sign of an emergency. Make sure they first gotten themselves to safety before making the call.