Home Safety - Information for Parents
Learning home fire safety techniques are important to teach the whole family and practice several times a year. Why? Because these are the alarming statistics:
- More than 30% of fires that kill young children are started by children playing with fire.*
- Children under age 10 account for an estimated 18% of annual fire deaths.*
- Children ages five and under are twice as likely to die in a fire than other age groups.^
- In a survey taken by the National Fire Protection Association, half of those responding said they had a fire escape plan but only 16% had practiced it.^
^ National Fire Protection Association
How Do I Teach My Child About Such An Important Topic?
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Children learn best when the rules are straightforward and easy to remember. Follow the 6 Cool Fire Safety Tips to make learning fun. If you have preschoolers, you may want to introduce just one or two of these tips at a time.
USE "TEACHABLE MOMENTS"
Reinforce your discussions about fire safety whenever the topic arises. For example, when there's a fire in town, the news or in a book, or when you see a fire, ask your children what they would do if they were in that situation.
DO IT, DON'T JUST SAY IT
Children learn by doing and by following your example. Make a game of practicing a fast escape route from each room in your house, especially at night, when most deadly fires occur. Use a stopwatch and wait until everyone has gathered at your family's designated meeting place before you stop the timer. Work together to achieve your family's best time record.
REPEAT YOURSELF
Children need to hear and do things over and over before they remember them. Minimally, practice your family's escape plan once every season: four times every year.
DON'T SCARE THEM
In a dangerous situation, it's normal for 3–6-year-olds to forget things they've learned. Make a game of practicing fire safety so they become very comfortable with all the rules. Remind them never to hide from firefighters because the firefighter's job is to help people.
Source: Allstate Home Safety
What Do I Need To Do To Keep My Home Safe?
Planning your families fire protection plan and activities can be overwhelming. To help, use the Home Fire Safety Checklist.
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