Safe Kids

Fire safety

Is your number up?

Do you have a number on the front of your house? Can the number be seen easily from the street during the day and night? This is very important in case the driver of a fire truck or ambulance needs to find your house quickly. House numbers can be purchased at a low cost from a hardware store.

Facts about fires

• Real fires are FAST. In a few minutes your whole house could be on fire.
• Real fires are HOT. Temperatures can be more than 600 degrees.
• Real fires are DARK. You won't be able to breathe and you can't see anything.
• Real fires are DANGEROUS -- no matter how small. If you see a fire, get out and get help.

Home fire safety

• Draw a simple picture of your home. Plan at least two escape routes from your home and two ways to get out of every room.
• Agree on an outside meeting place.
• Decide who will take charge of each child.
• Practice the escape routes during fire drills. (Practice escapes at night. That's when most deadly fires occur.)
• Show children who live in high-rise buildings the shortest route to a safe exit. Warn them not to use the elevator.
  
  In a fire...
  
• GET OUT FAST, seconds count. Phone for help from a neighbor's home, not from inside a burning building.
• COVER your mouth and nose.
• CRAWL LOW under the smoke to the nearest exit.
• TEST the door. If it's hot or there's smoke, use another way out.
• ONCE OUT, STAY OUT. There's nothing more important in your home than you. If someone is missing, tell a firefighter.
• GATHER at your designated meeting place.
• NEVER go back into a burning building.

If clothing catches on fire...

• STOP. Running fans the flames, making fire burn faster. SHOUT for help. Don't run for help.
• DROP to the floor and cover your face.
• ROLL back and forth to put out flames.
• COOL a burn with cool water.

Smoke is deadly

• Each year, fires and burns kill hundreds of children and permanently scar thousands, yet more fire victims die from the smoke than flames. Smoke can overwhelm a child or adult in minutes.
• Protect your family by installing smoke detectors outside all sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
• Test them monthly, following manufacturers' instructions. Change batteries at least once a year -- even if they are still working. Caution: never remove batteries for use in toys, a flashlight, or radio.
• Teach your children about smoke detectors. Let them help test the detectors, so they recognize the alarm. Follow up by practicing your escape route.

Matches and children don't mix

• Matches and lighters are tools for adults; they are not toys.
• Children who play with matches or lighters can be badly burned and can hurt others.
• Teach children that if they find matches, they should tell an adult the location right away.

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