5 Fire Safety Tips for Kids

Fire is such a scary thing, especially for parents with children in the house. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that half of all U.S. home fire deaths occur at night between the hours of 11:00 pm and 7:00 am, when people are most likely to be sleeping, and that children ages 5 and under are more than twice as likely to die in a fire than any other age group. Here are some helpful tips from Fire Marshal- Captain Steve Sciotto, from the Jacksonville Beach Fire Station to help parents protect their kids in the event of a fire.

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In An Emergency Dial 911

Teach your children how and when to dial 911. Show them how to dial the numbers on a toy phone and remind your children that 911 is only for emergencies. Role-playing is a great way to show several different emergency situations that will help give your kids the assurance they’ll need to decide when to call. Talk about what an emergency is, like a fire, and what isn’t an emergency, like a scrape on their arm. It is also a good idea to talk about who the emergency workers are in our community, so when they come to help, your children will know what to expect.

If Your Clothes Catch Fire :: Stop, Drop, and Roll

Talk to your children about what to do if their clothing catches on fire. They should stop where they are, drop to the ground and lay flat with their legs out straight. Then cover their eyes and mouth with their hands. Roll over and over and back and forth until the flames are out. Tell them to get help from a grown-up immediately, once the fire is out. This is another opportunity for parents to role-play with kids so that they can practice the skills needed to stay safe.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives :: Check Them Regularly

Sparky the Fire Dog® from the NFPA has declared that “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm” is the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, 2015. Working smoke alarms in bedrooms are a crucial part of home fire safety. If alarms are working properly and installed in proper locations, including all bedrooms, they can be an excellent tool in helping families escape a fire safely. It is recommended that smoke alarms be tested monthly using the test button.

Stay Low in Smoke

Demonstrate to your children to get low to the ground and crawl on their hands and knees to avoid the smoke. Kids get scared and will want to run, but encourage them to crawl to help prevent smoke inhalation. Let kids practice crawling through the house and to an exit. You can even make a game of it and see who can crawl the fastest out the door.

Plan and Practice Escape Drills in Your House

One of the best ways to stop house fires from happening is for your family to have a plan in place if there ever is a fire. As a family, form a plan and practice it a few times a year. That way everyone will be confident in the plan and be able to follow through in the event of an emergency. Visit sparky.org where you can draw a map of your home and create your very own exit plan. Be sure to let kids have input so that it becomes more meaningful for them. Even young kids can help pick where your family will meet outside the home if there was a fire.

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Fire Marshal Captain Steve Sciotto and all of the other firefighters at the Jacksonville Beach Fire Department want your families and you to stay safe. You can schedule a visit to the Headquarters Fire Station #1, 325 Second Ave South anytime! They also recommend these links to learn more about how to keep your family safe.

October 4-10 is National Fire Prevention Week, take a few minutes to test your smoke detectors and talk with your kids about fire safety.

Jennifer Beamer
A former preschool teacher, Jennifer Beamer married an Army guy in 2007 and is now a SAHM to a sweet and lively two-year-old boy. Born and raised in Florida, she loves the beach and anything water-related. When she isn’t chasing her rambunctious toddler, Jennifer is facilitating the Jacksonville Moms Blog sponsored Neighborhood Play Groups. She loves a good mystery, meeting new people and getting fit with the awesome ladies of Jax Stroller Strength!

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