Child Education
Children and Fire
- More than 250,000 children (ages 0-17) are burned each year?
- More than 15,000 children are hospitalized as a result of their burn injury?
- More than 1,100 children die each year from fire and burn injuries?
- More than 200,000 children are burned by contact with hot substances and objects
- Children playing with fire cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries each year. Preschoolers are most likely to start these fires, typically by playing with matches and lighters.
Fire Safety Tips
Here are some basic tips that will keep you fire safe:
- Don’t Play with Anything That Can Cause a Fire!
- Stop, Drop & Roll
- Crawl Low under Smoke And Know The Way Out
- Fire fighters Are Your Friends
- Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.)
- Smoke Detectors
Don’t Play with Anything That Can Cause a Fire!
You would be surprised at the number of children who play with items that can start a fire not realizing how fast a fire can grow. Take the time to review the following safety tips.
- Don’t play with matches and lighters.
- Don’t play with firecrackers.
- Don’t use a candle without your parents in the room.
- Don’t play with BBQ starters.
- Don’t light paper or other objects on fire to see if it burns. It will and can quickly get out of control. Fires can get out of control in seconds.
Stop, Drop & Roll
Do you know what to do if your clothes catch on fire?
- Stop immediately.
- Drop to the ground.
- Roll over and over, back and forth while covering your face and mouth.
- Roll until all the flames are out. Practice Stop, Drop & Roll it so you won’t forget it in case of an emergency. You can practice it with your family, even your grandparents. Remember: STOP, DROP & ROLL is not just for kids.
Crawl Low under Smoke and Know Your Way Out
- Crawl low to get out of a smoke filled room. The air toward the floor is easier to breathe.
- You need to plan two ways out of each room before a fire occurs so you’ll know where you can safely exit.
Firefighters Are Your Friends
During a fire, the house will become pitch black because of the smoke. When the firefighter arrives at your house he/she will look for you. If you were unable to exit through your families’ preplanned escape routes, you will be unable to see very well because of the smoke. Firefighter’s wearing equipment look and sound different. The firefighter will look bigger and make a sound like a big breathing machine. Remember no matter how scared you are: Do Not Hide from a Firefighter. Firefighters are there to help you. They will lead you out of the fire to a safe place.
Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.)
Quick, close your eyes. Do you know two ways out of the room you are in right now?
If a fire breaks out in your home it is important that every member of the family knows what to do. So have a fire escape drill at home!
- Start by asking your parents to help you make a home fire escape plan.
- Your family can sit down together and draw a floor plan of your house.
- Use the floor plan to clearly mark two ways out of every room. Also put a big X where the smoke detector is located.
- After the drawing is complete, decide where each member of the family will meet outside.
- Then practice, practice, practice until you can do the drill with your eyes closed.
- Make this a family project and have fun with it. Knowing what to do when a fire breaks out can save your life.
Smoke Detectors
Do you know what to do if you hear a smoke detector?
- Proceed to the nearest exit and leave the building in a calm manner.
- Public places such as schools and hotels have clearly marked exits and exit routes. Take a few minutes to look at the posted fire exit information. If you do not understand what the signs say, ask an adult to explain them to you.
- When you are at home it is important to know two exits out of every room.
- Practice exit drills with your family and follow your plan.
Facts & figures*
- Most of the people killed in child-playing fires are under 5, and such fires are the leading cause of fire deaths among preschoolers.
- Roughly three out of every four child-playing fires — and at least four-fifths of associated deaths and injuries — involve matches or lighters.
- Children also start fires by playing with candles, stoves, fireworks and cigarettes.
- Among fatal home fires started by children playing, three out of five involve children igniting bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture or clothing.
- Just over half of child-playing fires in the home start in a bedroom.
- Children who start fires may be children in crisis, with the fires acting as cries for help from stressful life experiences or abuse, according to studies of fire-setting behavior.
Safety tips
- Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Never use lighters or matches as a source of amusement for children. They may imitate what you do.
- If your child expresses curiosity about fire or has been playing with fire, calmly but firmly explain that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.
- Use only lighters designed with child-resistant features, and store up high in a locked cabinet.
- Teach young children to tell an adult if they see matches or lighters, and teach school-age children to bring any matches or lighters to an adult.
- Never leave matches or lighters in a bedroom or any place where children may go without supervision.
- If you suspect your child is intentionally setting fires or unduly fascinated with fire, get help immediately. Your local fire department, school, or community counseling agency can put you in touch with experts trained to help.
