10 Fire Safety Tips That Will Teach Your Kids More Than Stop, Drop, and Roll
Fire safety is a topic we should all be discussing with our children more frequently. Not only does it seem like everything is a fire hazard these days, but as parents, we all know that sinking feeling when our kids get ahold of something they shouldn't. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were more than 1.3 million fires reported in the United States in 2016. Even more troubling is that their study found that fire play by children started an average of more than 49,000 fires per year with 43 percent of those fires stemming from children under the age of 6.
Long story short: kids loooove things they shouldn't, which is all the more reason to actively educate your little ones on fire safety. Whether that means having a detailed family plan in case of an emergency or just showing them this list (GIFs make everything more interesting), we have 10 tips to help keep your children safe.
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Don't touch matches.
Rule number one for your kids: don't ever play with or touch matches and lighters. Let them know that if they do find one lying around, get an adult to help pick it up.
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Learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
Make sure that you have a kid-friendly fire extinguisher (like this Mini Firefighter ($22)) at home and that the whole family is familiar with how to use it.
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Avoid getting close to a stove when it's on.
You can never tell your kids to be cautious around lit stoves/ovens and fireplaces often enough. Let them know that they should never turn one on without a grown-up present and aware.
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Stay away from jumper cables.
Ever get stranded on the side of the road with your kid in tow? Jumper cables can appear harmless but will cause serious injury if not used properly for car battery recharge.
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Don't leave burning candles unattended.
Candles cause about 25 home fires a day, so be vigilant when burning them with kids present.
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Don't ignore the smoke detector beeps.
Yes, those alerts can be extremely annoying, but they can also be a lifesaver. In addition to making sure you change the smoke detector batteries diligently when they start beeping, you should also explain to your children what those beeps mean and why they are so important.
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Have an escape plan ready.
Don't be caught off-guard if something happens! Make sure your family has a good escape plan in place that you all practice regularly.
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Touch doorknobs before opening doors.
In the case of a possible fire, let your kids know that they should feel each doorknob for heat before opening them to escape.
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