It's difficult to discuss a home fire with children. Parents want to convey the seriousness of the situation, but they don't want to scare children either. The best way to teach home fire safety to children is to be matter-of-fact and make sure that kids firmly understand what to do in case of a house fire.
House Fires are Emergencies
Make sure that kids know that a house fire is an emergency, and different rules apply in an emergency: they won't get in trouble for screaming for help (even if it's the middle of the night) and no one will be mad if they have to break something in order to get out.
Map Out Escape Routes in Case of a House Fire
If there's a fire, kids need to know to get out quickly. The front door is the most obvious exit, but if it is too hot or it won't open, then there will have to be an alternate way out. Together, identify all doors and windows leading out of the house. It's okay to mark escape routes on paper, but make sure to physically go through the house as well to cement the lesson in a child's mind.
Establish an Emergency Meeting Place
Kids need to know not to wait for mom or dad if there is a fire, or try to find them inside the burning house. If the smoke detector goes off or if there is a fire, family members should immediately go to a predetermined meeting place a safe distance away from the home, such as the sidewalk in front of the neighbor's house.
Practice With Periodic Home Fire Drills
The biggest mistake that many parents make is going through a fire safety plan once with their kids and then not talking about it again for several years. If a fire breaks out and kids need to act quickly, they aren't likely to remember something they have only heard once or twice.
Kids learn by repetition, so parents should repeat fire safety lessons over and over to help them internalize the message. Have regular home fire drills when kids aren't expecting it, and avoid "helping" them decide what to do. This is practice for the real thing.
A fire is a dangerous and unpredictable thing, and often time is of the essence when there's a house fire. Developing a fire safety plan with children and practicing the escape plan regularly is essential for a child who knows what to do in case of a house fire.
BNC101
 |
