October - Fire Safety
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October - Fire Safety

Learning about fires can help you to know when fires are safe and when they are dangerous. The fires in fireplaces or the flames on candles are not dangerous, but other types of fires can happen that can be scary. By practicing fire safety skills you can learn how to prevent those dangerous fires and learn how to protect yourself if a fire were to happen.


Major causes of fires:
Electrical Wires - If there are too many electrical wires in one outlet on your wall, the outlet may not be strong enough to hold all of that electricity, and it can cause a fire.

Appliances - Lamps, toasters, curling irons, or baby monitors can sometimes not work because of a short in their electrical circuit, especially if they are older appliances. To be safe, appliances should be unplugged when not in use to prevent a fire from occurring.

Ovens - Cooking with stoves and ovens is okay to do, but fires can be caused if they are left unattended. Make sure an adult helps you use kitchen appliances to protect yourself from potential fire hazards.

Matches - If children play with matches and lighters without adult supervision, a fire could result and they could get seriously injured. If you find matches or lighters, give them to an adult to prevent anyone from playing with them and potentially causing an accident.

Accidents - Sometimes we accidently leave on a curling iron, a lamp, or an electrical blanket. These accidents can be harmful and cause fire in our homes. Make sure to turn off all appliances when they are not in use.
Parents, please share your ideas!

If parents have knowledge about how to prevent fires and how to effectively deal with them if they happen, kids will be more likely to practice fire safety skills. Here are some tips on how to prepare your house and your children in case of fire.

Create a fire escape floor plan:
  • Draw a rectangle on a piece of paper. Draw one for each room of your home. Then draw in all doors and windows. Your children can use crayons to draw in beds, tables, etc.
  • In one color, draw a line that shows the fastest way out of each room. Then, in another color, draw another line that shows the second fastest way out.
  • Practice this plan with everyone in your family and make sure they all understand it.
Know what to do in case of a fire:
  • Pick a meeting place outside of your home where everyone can gather after they have
    left the burning building.
  • Hold home fire drills and make them realistic by pretending some exits are blocked by smoke or fire. Hold your drills in the evening since kids can get disoriented in the dark and fires often happen at night.
  • Make sure everyone knows that once you’re out, stay out! Never go back inside of a burning building for anything.
  • In case of a fire, get out first, and then call 911 with a cell phone or from a neighbor’s phone.
Escape tips:
  • Close the doors behind you as you escape to slow the spread of fire and smoke.
  • If you have to escape through smoke, stay low to the ground. Crawl on the floor keeping your head just a foot above the floor where the air will be cleanest.
  • Test doorknobs and spaces around closed doors with the back of your hand. If the door is warm, try another escape route. If it is cool, open it slowly. Slam the door shut if smoke pours through.
Things to think about:
  • Make sure babysitters know escape plan and where to meet.
  • Can everyone in your home — including children — unlock and open all doors and windows?
  • If your windows have security bars, equip them with quick-release devices, and teach everyone in your household how to use them.
  • Test your smoke alarms once a month.
  • Replace alarm batteries once a year.
  • Replace any alarm that is more than 10 years old.
  • Buy emergency ladders for each room in your home, or at least in each bedroom, in case someone needs to exit out of a window.
Fire Safety Tips for Kids:
  • Make a fire escape plan with your family and practice it. Have a place to meet and once you get out and have 2 ways to exit each room in case one way is blocked by fire.
  • Help your parents put smoke alarms in the house, there should be at least one in every floor and mark your calendar to change the batteries at least once a year.
  • Kids, know your home telephone number and address in case you have to tell the dispatcher on 911 where you live.
  • Never cook or bake without the help of an adult.
  • Stay away from matches and lighters and candles.
  • If you hear a smoke alarm sound off in your home, stay calm and do not panic. Get out quickly and stay out. If there is smoke in your house, stay low to the ground when you exit. Meet your family members at a preplanned spot. Call 911 from a neighbor’s house or cell phone after you’ve exited.
  • If you are stuck inside a room in your house and cannot exit through the door, yell that you are okay. Feel the doorknob and if it’s warm, keep the door shut and use a backup exit, such as a window.
  • Call 911. Before you call 911, make sure you leave the house first and then call from a neighbor’s house or their cell phone. It’s okay to feel scared or nervous if you have to call 911. The emergency operators who answer the 911 calls are professionals and can help you. They talk to a lot of people, both kids and adults, who are upset or nervous when they call. When you are on the phone try to stay calm and not talk too fast. If you speak clearly and calmly the operators will be able to understand and give you the help you need fast.

    The 911 emergency operator may as you questions such as these:

    What is the emergency?
    What happened?
    Where are you?
    Who needs help?
    Who is with you?
    Are you safe where you are?

    Don't Hang Up! If your 911 call is an emergency, stay on the phone until the operator tells you its okay to do so. That way, you can be sure the operator has all the information they need to send help to you fast.

  • Make a fire escape plan with your family before any emergencies happen.
  • In case of fire, test the door before you open it by feeling it with the back of your hand near the top of the door. If the door is cool, open it carefully. If the door is hot, do NOT open it. Use the second way out: the window. Meet your family in the place you planned.
  • Do not hide under your bed or in your closet or lock yourself in your room and be quite. It is important to let others know you are okay at all times.
  • When exiting, do not pack all of your belongings. You are the most important thing and you need to get out fast.
  • Don’t be afraid of fire fighters. They are there to help you and keep you safe. Let them know where you are by talking loudly to them from within the room.
  • Don’t go back inside after you are already out. The fire fighters will help save anyone who is still left inside the building.
Game Zone!
Time for Bed!