Fire Safety Information for Kids

Understanding fire can keep children safer.

Children can be fascinated by fire without realizing how dangerous it is. There are some simple facts they can understand early which may help them understand how to stay safe. Since children will be familiar with school fire drills, have a family fire drill in your home. Make a plan to escape from each room in your house and practice it with your children. Show them how to look for fire exits wherever you go.

Fire is Fast

Check that door handles aren't hot before opening.

Children can understand that fire runs faster than we do. Teach them never to open a door or a window if there is a fire nearby, since it will spread faster than they can get away. Learn and practice together; feel a door handle to see if it is hot, then look for smoke underneath the door and put a towel down to block it out.

Fire is Dark

Flames may look bright from a distance, but a smoke-filled room will be very dark, reports the U.S. Fire Administration. Practice your fire drill at night with the lights off. Teach children how to find the door in a room by following a wall all the way around in one direction. Show them how to feel with the back of their hand instead of the palm; this makes it easier to pull your hand away from a hot surface.

Fire is Deadly

Heat and smoke both kill. Teach children that smoke will take the air out of a room and replace it with poisonous fumes, but that any air left will be near the floor. Practice escaping from smoke in your house by crawling on your hands and knees, advises the website KidsHealth. Make sure they understand that there won't be time to look for anything and that pets are good at escaping on their own.

Getting Help

Visit your local fire hall.

Practice unlocking doors and windows and removing screens. Make plans to get to fresh air or a window to call for help. Look at your home from outside and agree on the best windows to climb out of or attract attention from. Ensure your children know that firefighters are their friends and that they shouldn't hide. An easy way to do this is to visit a fire station or emergency service open-house day.

References

• U.S. Fire Adminstration: Learn About Fire
• Kids Health: What to Do in a Fire

Resources

• Federal Emergency Management Agency: FEMA for Kids