Keep Fire Safe at Home

Keep Fire Safe at Home

October marks Fire Safety Month and teaching fire safety should start at a young age for little ones. Many area fire companies visit area preschools, day care centers and elementary schools to share the “stop, drop and roll” message, among other tips, but here are some you can go over with your children at home courtesy of safekids.org.

In the Kitchen:

• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing.

• Never leave the kitchen unattended when cooking and don’t leave a youngster alone when cooking either.

• Keep items that could catch fire away from the stove (think paper and dish towels, food packaging, dish towels and the like).

In the Bedroom:

• Smoke alarms should be installed in or just outside of every bedroom and should be checked monthly.

• Teach children what to do when they hear the smoke alarm:

  • Crawl low under smoke.

  • Feel a door before opening it. If it’s hot, find another way out. Show them possible alternatives.

  • Teach your children never to go back into a burning building or to try to collect items like toys when exiting a fire situation.

  • As soon as they exit the building, they should “stop, drop and roll” as a precaution.

Also at Home:

• Practice an escape route with your children in case of a fire.

• Keep lighters and matches out of reach and teach children to never play with them.

• Keep portable heaters away from kids and away from flammable items.

• Keep children away from candles and open flames.

• Avoid plugging too many items into one electrical outlet.