How to Teach a Child Fire Safety

These days children in school are fortunate to have fire drills and fire safety events. Many schools have firefighters come to assemblies to teach the children fire safety. But it is still important to reiterate fire safety in the home and on the streets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Telephones
• Smoke Detectors
• Internet Service Providers
• Markers
• Poster Board Or Cardboard
• Computers

1. Explain to your child that you are going to go over some fire safety lessons and explain the importance of fire safety.
2. Teach your child EDITH - the acronym for "exit drills in the home."
3. Keep matches, lighters and cigarettes out of the hands of children. Put them in high places where tiny hands can't get to them - and be sure to tell your kids that matches and lighters start fires and are not toys to play with.
4. Tell your child to find an adult if she sees anyone playing with matches or lighters, and that if she finds matches, she must give them to an adult.
5. Teach your child to call 911 in an emergency. Explain that if she is home and the smoke alarm goes off, she should get out of the house and go to a neighbor's house to call 911.
6. Take a look at different Web sites that address fire safety. They have games, characters and fun facts for children that make learning about fire safety exciting.
7. Stress fire safety to your children around various holidays, like the Fourth of July and the December holiday season, when fireworks, matches and candles are abundant.

Tips & Warnings

• It's important to explain to your child why she shouldn't play with matches. If you find your child playing with matches or a lighter, take them away, but also take the time to go over these fire safety rules.
• Children copy adults. So if you are lighting matches and smoking or lighting candles, chances are your child will be interested in doing the same. Take extra precautions and teach your child not to play with matches.