How to Create a Family Fire Safety Plan

A fire safety plan is a vital tool for any family. Though the hope is that it'll never have to be put into action, discussing and implementing a fire safety plan helps teach young children what to do in case of an emergency. The process includes teaching all family members safe ways to exit a burning building and introducing kids to life-saving techniques. Creating a family fire safety plan is an educational process in which all members should participate.

Things You'll Need

• Fire extinguisher Markers Paper Gold stars Picture frames

Instructions

1. Visit the local fire department so that the children can meet the firefighters and check out their equipment. If children know what a firefighter's suit looks like and get to know people who wear them, they will know to trust them if there is ever a fire at your house. The firefighters may have pamphlets available that further explain fire safety to kids.

2. Purchase a fire extinguisher for the kitchen. Teach older children how to use the extinguisher, and tell the younger children to stay away from the device. Be sure to mention that no one should ever try to fight a fire with an extinguisher for more than 30 seconds. If the flames aren't immediately extinguished, it's time to evacuate the house.

3. Call a family meeting in which the family goes over the basics. Teach the children fire safety skills such as the stop, drop and roll technique. Also show them how to crawl near the ground to keep from inhaling smoke and how to check a door for heat before opening it.

4. Outline the prime exits for each room with the children. If the rooms are on the first floor, show them how to exit through a window. For rooms on the second floor, teach them how to safely exit the room by remaining close to the ground. Make sure family members in second-floor rooms also know which window is ideal to flag down help from, should their exit become blocked. Tell children never to jump out of a second-story window unless a firefighter or other adult tells them to.

5. Create maps for each room of the house. Draw the floor plan of the house, marking the location of a particular room with a gold star. Draw arrows indicating the prime exit route from each room. Frame the maps and hang them in their corresponding rooms.

6. Test all of the smoke detectors regularly, and hold family fire drills so everyone learns and remembers the evacuation plan.