Fire Safety

The following are a few of the topics discussed during our Fire Safety House presentation at Safety City. Spending a little time going over these items prior to a trip to Safety City will allow the children to know the answers to questions we will ask and also helps to reinforce these safety messages. Reviewing this with the students strongly recommended.

Stop, Drop and Roll

When your clothes catch on fire, stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your eyes with your hands, and roll over and over. Roll until the fire goes out.

Call 911

911 is the phone number to call for an emergency, but emergencies only. If you need the Fire Department, Police Department, or Ambulance, call 911 for help fast! Sometime people call 911 as a joke or prank. Those people that abuse 911 can receive a ticket, fine, or go to jail. When you call 911, stay on the phone until you are told to hang up. The dispatcher (or operator) will ask several questions such as Who you are, Where you are, and What the emergency is. Make sure you answer questions as accurate as possible.

Cooking Safety

Be very careful when cooking. Do not allow children or adults to run or play in the kitchen while cooking is going on. Turn the handles of pots or pans to the side to prevent tipping over. Always use potholders or oven mitts to move hot pans or skillets. Do not leave food cooking unattended. If you have to leave, turn everything off.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors save lives, but only if they work properly. Having a working smoke detector can increase your chance of surviving a house fire by more the 53%! There should be a detector in every bedroom and maybe in a hallway or living area depending on the size or layout of the home. If it is a battery-operated detector, then the battery should be changed every 6 months. We suggest doing this during daylight savings time change. "Change your Clocks. Change your Batteries!" Smoke detectors should also be tested once a month by pressing the test button.

Matches & Lighters

Matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Adults use them as a tool to start the BBQ grill, light a camp fire, light candles, etc. But they can be dangerous when used as a toy. Children should never play with matches or lighters. If you find them, go tell an adult about them. Do not touch them. Do not pick them up or take them to someone. The adult might throw them away, or if they are going to keep them, they should be stored on a high shelf or cabinet so children cannot reach them.

Create a Home Escape Plan!

Exit Drill in the Home (E.D.I.T.H)

  1. Prepare a floor plan of your home showing at least two ways out of each room.
  2. Sleep with your bedroom door closed. It helps to hold back heat and smoke.
  3. Agree on a safe meeting place where family members are to gather for a head count.
  4. Make certain that no one goes back inside.

Be sure to practice!

At Least 2 Ways Out

There should be at least 2 ways out of every room in a house. There may be 2 doors, or a door and a window. Windows can be used as a way out, but are not as good as doors. Try to escape by crawling low to the floor and feel the door with the back of the hand for heat. If it is hot, do not open the door. Find another way out. If it is not hot, open it carefully and then continue crawling out of the house.

Stay Low & Go!

Smoke rises. The best air to breathe in a fire or smoke situation is down low, about 2-16 inches from the floor. Do not stand up or do anything that will put you in the smoke. Smoke kills more people than flames do. In some cases it will take one breath of smoke to kill a person. Do not stand up until you get out of the house.

Meeting Place

Every home should have a "Safe Meeting Place". This can be a neighbor's house, a stop sign, a mailbox, or some other landmark, but have ONE place that everyone in the home meets in case of a fire. This helps families to stay together and know that everyone got out safely.

Get Out & Stay Out!

Once you get out of a house that is on fire, DO NOT go back in for ANY reason. Possessions, or material things can be replaced, people cannot. People that go back inside a house that is on fire almost never make it back out alive.