Fire safety and prevention are always on our teacher to-do lists for the fall. With October right around the corner, we’re busy pulling together all our resources. Though, I have to say, being married to a firefighter, the term “fire hazard” seems to be part of our daily conversations. You’d be surprised to know how many there are, lol.
A while back, it dawned on me that we spend a lot of time talking about fire safety at school. That makes sense. That’s where I spend all my time with the kids. But then they go home. And, not to get too serious, but statistically the number of fires that occur in homes is significantly higher than in schools.
So… do kids know how to prevent fires in their own homes? And, if a fire should break out, do they know what to do? Does their family have a plan? Do they practice fire safety drills?
At school, yes. At home, not always. Let’s work on that.
FIRE SAFETY AT HOME
Fire safety instruction and drills are scheduled in schools. However, these conversations don’t often happen in homes. I get it. If you or the people you know have never experienced a fire, you likely aren’t thinking about it. It can seem like something that’ll never happen to you. It might not even be on your radar.
It’s all about awareness and prevention. Let’s teach kids about the possibility of fire, ways to prevent fires, and what to do if one begins. For example, do they know different ways to exit their home and do they have a safe meeting place outside?
It’s important to talk about specific fire safety strategies, like:
- having and checking smoke detectors
- keeping a small fire extinguisher near potential hazards
- knowing your family’s escape plan
- understanding that matches and lighters are not toys
- remembering not to hide under a bed or in a closet… get outside
And, this one’s for my husband… let’s make sure children know firefighters are helpers. The parts of their uniform and the equipment they use can seem intimidating to a young child, but a little explanation can go a long way here. In fact, your school may even schedule a visit from one of your local fire stations each year.
Most of the kids are super excited about this. They want to hold the hose, try on a helmet, and sit on the fire truck. By the end of the visit, everyone’s on board with the idea that firefighters are friendly.
If you’re getting ready to plan for fire safety week and need a few extra resources, check out this set for FIRE PREVENTION AT HOME. It includes the pieces featured in this post and encourages children to talk to their loved ones about fire safety at home.
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