Teaching Kids About Fire Safety

Fire safety is something that every family should practice. Yet, it seems that many families don't have a fire plan. Perhaps it is because we live in a world where we feel safe from dangers such as a home fire. But that is a false perception and many people find out too late that a safety plan is important for everyone.

Even today with our modern heating and cooking appliances, where we don't use an open flame, there is risk of fire. Accidents happen. Perhaps someone forgot to turn off a burner on the stove and a dishtowel is close by. Maybe there is a grease fire in the kitchen. Many older homes may have old wiring that could short out and cause a fire. There is still a risk so we need to make sure our kids understand the basics of fire safety.

So how do you teach children about fires? Well, you need to start with prevention. Children are naturally curious and they are drawn to matches, lighters and open flames. What child doesn't like to poke a stick in a campfire? Kids need to understand the danger that comes with playing with fire and the damage it can do if it gets out of control. They also need to understand that playing with items that can cause a fire is off limits.

Kids also need to understand the risks to property and people that a fire causes. In their make believe and video game world, the hero always comes out uninjured and life goes on as normal. But in real life that doesn't always happen and you need to reinforce that fact. Check out a video from your library that teaches about the dangers of fire and what to do. Many local fire departments also have resources that residents can use to teach their families.

Make sure you family knows what to do in case there is a fire. Teach kids to stop drop and roll if they have flames on their clothing. Make an evacuation plan and practice it regularly so it is familiar to everyone. Kids need to know that if smoke is present, they need to army crawl along the floor until they get outside.

In addition to teaching kids and practicing regularly, the best thing you can do is to have working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in your home. Make sure kids know what the alarm sounds like and what to do when it goes off. Teach them to how to use the extinguisher by pointing it at the base of the fire.

It is important for everyone in the family to understand and be familiar with fire safety and your family's evacuation plan. Material possessions can be replaced, but your family cannot. Make sure they know what to do in an emergency before it is too late.

Jamie spends a lot of time with her children enjoying a nice warm fire, so a good fireplace safety gate is important to her. Jamie loves the look of a glowing fire so she uses electric fireplace logs for a beautiful, but safe fire.