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Matches and Lighters
Don't let your children play with fire. Children are fascinated by
fire. They don't understand the danger of playing with matches and
lighters. Always keep matches and lighters away from children. Store them
up high, preferably in a locked cabinet. Keep matches and lighters out of
the reach of children.
Tell your children if they find matches or lighters:
Teach your children that:
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matches and lighters are not toys and are
dangerous;
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fire can hurt them and destroy things;
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once a fire is started it is difficult to
control;
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matches and lighters should only be used by
adults.
Stop, Drop and
Roll
Practice the Stop, Drop and Roll movements with your children. This
could save their lives if their clothes ever caught on fire. Have your
children pretend that their clothes are on fire. Then tell them to:
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Stop - Get them to stop where they are,
and stop what they are doing. Don't run!
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Drop - Get them to drop to the floor as
quickly as possible.
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Roll - Have them cover their face with
their hands, then roll over and over until the flames are out.
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Plan to Get Out
Alive
When children see smoke or fire they often respond by trying to hide,
for example in a closet, or under a bed. Tell your children that they
cannot hide from fire but they can escape if they follow a few simple
rules.
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Prepare a home fire escape plan with your
children.
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Practice fire drills at least twice a year with
your children.
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Show your children different ways to get out of
every room.
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Make sure your children know how to get out of
their home. Show them how to unlock doors and windows.
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In an apartment, your children need to know which
stairways will get them out of the building.
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Tell your children never to take the elevator
during a fire.
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Decide on a planned meeting area outside the home
as part of your home fire escape plan.
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Never go back into a burning building!
Get out, stay out and
stay alive!
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Teach your children the Fire Department phone
number, 9-1-1.
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Call the Fire Department from a neighbor's phone.
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Crawl Low Under
Smoke
Teach your children:
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smoke is dangerous;
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smoke rises, so cleaner, cooler air is near the
floor;
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to get down on their hands and knees and crawl
low under the smoke to the nearest exit.
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Smoke Alarms
Make sure children know what a smoke alarm is. Children must know:
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smoke alarms warn them if a fire starts;
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to get out of the house immediately when they
hear the sound of the smoke alarm;
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smoke alarms are not toys and should not be
played with. Show your child how important smoke alarms are by testing
your smoke alarm every month and changing the battery at least once a
year.
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Visit our
Smoke Detector page for more information .
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Further Information
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