Protecting Children from the Dangers of Fire
Children have a natural curiosity about fire. It’s a curiosity that can be deadly. Fires cause the death of more than 3,500 Americans every year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Each year, about 300 children under the age of five die from fires set by themselves or other juveniles. Children who are too young to understand the danger are still old enough to start fires, making it imperative to start teaching children about home fire safety early.
For parents, fire safety isn’t only about teaching children the dangers of fire, but about taking precautions themselves to make their homes safe. Particularly in homes with children under five, it’s important to keep lighters and matches secure in a safe place. Homes should be fitted with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in bedrooms, hallways, the kitchen and the garage, and the batteries should be changed twice a year. Fire extinguishers should be available on every level of the home, and parents should practice using them.
The language that parents use when teaching children about fire safety is important, too. To young children, fire seems mysterious. Parents can demystify fire by teaching children that fire is a tool, and then demonstrating the difference between tools and toys. Tools are for grownups. Toys are for children. Parents should use simple words like “hot!†and “ouch!†for very young children. It’s important to stress that fire is “fast!†as well. Most child fire deaths occur because children don’t react quickly enough to the danger. Children need to be taught about firefighters, too, letting them know that they are helpers and heroes and that children should never hide from them.
Every family should have a home escape plan in place and should practice escaping from a fire at least twice a year. An evacuation plan should be posted in plain sight. Ideally, there should be two ways to get out of any room. Parents should regularly emphasize that “fire lanes†in each room must be kept free of clutter. Fire safety ladders should be available for second story bedrooms. Children should be taught that fire drills always begin with a drop to the floor. Teaching them that smoke rises and that the air will be clearest on the floor is crucial. Children should then crawl towards their established exits, use the backs of their hands to test if a closed door is hot and practice using the alternative exit as well. Parents will want to be sure that they have established a location outside where the family will meet in case of a fire.
Parents should teach children about personal fire safety as well, demonstrating how to stop, drop and roll should their clothes catch on fire. It’s important to understand just how strong a child’s curiosity about fire can be. By speaking honestly and opening about the dangers of fire and by providing and practicing fire safety drills, parents will satisfy a child’s natural curiosity while protecting them at the same time.
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