Teaching Kids Fire Saftey

This week was Fire Saftey week at my daughter Malorie's school.  We got to go to the Fire Station, look at the Fire Trucks, meet some of the Fire Fighters, and try on one of their Saftey Helmets.  They even had a Fire Saftey game set up for the kids to practice crawling under the smoke if they are ever in a real fire. 

My Son practicing crawling under smoke

We had a really good time, they learned lots of great information and were able to ask questions that 3,4 & 5 year olds want to know.  If your child's school doesn't offer an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Fire Station and Trucks, you should call your local Fire Station.  Most allow citizens to bring their children in for a tour of the Fire Dept. and to see the Trucks.

Kids next to one of the Fire Trucks

Since they were learning about Fire Saftey at school this week, we decided it was a good time to go over the Saftey rules for our house as well.  We taught the kids how to STOP DROP & ROLL.

Cole helping Malorie roll.



We also went over an evacuation route for each child.  This is something I strongly recomend you go over with your children at least twice a year to help them remember what to do in case there is a fire or some other emergency that requires them getting out of the house.

Here are some other suggestions I have for keeping your family safe in case of fire.

• Replace batteries in your smoke detectors every 6 months. 
• (Daylight saving days are great days to do this)
• Never put cords under carpet or furniture
• Check electrical cords for cuts or breaks
• Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children.
• Always remember to turn off your stove, oven, and other cooking sources.
• Keep flamable material away from fire places and heating ducts
• Store Fire Extinguishers in kitchen and other areas that have higher fire potentials
• Teach older children how to operate Fire Extinguishers
• Plan and practice an emergency escape route reguarly
• Teach children the importance of STOP DROP & ROLL
• Teach children the ways to put out different types of fire
• wood, cloth, and/or paper - water or class A fire extinguisher
• grease - cover pan with lid, douse with baking soda or use class B fire extinguisher
• electrical charge - use class C fire extinguisher

We are quickly coming to the Christmas season in which there tends to be a higher number of accidental fires.  Be sure to check your tree and outdoor lights for any breaks in the cord and run them in safe areas of the yard and house.  Also if you use a live tree make sure to check the water level daily.  Water needs to be above the cut base of the tree at all times.

A few tips on picking a live tree

• The fresher the better - it is best to go somewhere that your tree is still growing until purchase.
• If you only have pre-cut trees available in your area make sure to pick a healthy tree
• The limbs should be very flexible and the trunk should be sticky from sap being released
• Pull on the needles, if they come off easily this tree is old and you should keep looking
• If lots of needles come off from minimal handling of the tree choose another one
• When you get your tree home cut off the bottom 2 inches of trunk, just like flowers they need a fresh open cut to be able to suck up water