Fire Safety for Children: 7 Tips to Help Them Learn How to Stay Safe

Every parent wants their child to be safe and secure, and while we watch them rough and tumble at the playground and guide them through riding a bike, there are plenty of more serious situations that so many of us overlook preparing for, such as what to do in the event of a fire. 

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to educate your child on fire safety and to instil the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe. These are life-long skills that could save their lives, so it’s worth thinking about how you will do it.

Fortunately, we’re here to make it easy. With these seven tips, you can help your child learn about fire safety and ensure that they’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

#1 – Teach Fire Safety Basics

The first step in teaching your child about fire safety is to educate them on the basics. Once they understand the fundamentals, you can start to move on to the more complicated things.

Explain what fire is, how it starts, and what it can do. Teach your child to recognize the signs of a fire, such as smoke, heat, and flames, and to stay clear of these dangers. Also, talk about the hazards, which include;

• Unattended cooking, hot pots and stoves, and overhanging handles
• Loose electrical cords that children may pull on electrical cords
• Portable heaters and radiators and the dangers of fabrics near them
• Candles and open flames and why it’s important to be slow and safe around them
• Matches and lighters and how it’s important to never play with them
• Fireplaces and how children should never really go near them
• Overloaded electrical outlets and how you should never insert too many plugs into an outlet

You may also want to teach your child to call 999 in the event of a fire and to evacuate the building as quickly as possible, and where your building or family meeting point is.

#2 – Make a Home Fire Escape Plan

It’s too late to have your kids know what to do and where to go if you’re in an emergency situation. Do they bring their belongings with them and grab their favourite toy when they need to get out of the house?

Of course not, but your children don’t know that unless you’ve told them. 

Teach your kids what they need to know by creating a fire escape plan with your child and practising it regularly. This is one of those things you hope you never have to use but will be so thankful you spent time on it if you ever find yourself in the worst-case scenario.

Make sure your child knows how to evacuate the building, where to meet outside, and how to call for help. Explain that in the event of a fire, they should not stop to grab anything but should evacuate the building immediately.

And don’t forget that this applies to when they’re out as well, whether it’s at school, in a bowling alley, or a shopping centre.

#3 – Teach Fire Safety Rules

Teach your child about the rules for fire safety, including the importance of not playing with fire, not leaving appliances or lights on, and not blocking exits. Explain the dangers of fireworks and matches, and teach your child never to touch these items. All the basics.

#4 – Practice Fire Drills

Conduct fire drills at home to help your child get used to the process of evacuating the building. 

Encourage your child to take the drills seriously and to follow the fire escape plan. After the drills, discuss with your child what they did well and what they could improve on.

Your kids will be doing this in school drills throughout the years, so you can always tie your own home drills in at the same time while the topic is fresh on their minds.

#5 – Install Smoke Alarms

Install smoke alarms in your home and explain to your child what they are and how they work. It’s always a good idea to teach your child the importance of not touching or tampering with smoke alarms. 

Also, make sure you check them regularly to ensure that they’re working correctly.

#6 – Discuss Real-Life Scenarios

Kids love to roleplay, so what better way to teach them how to be safe during a fire situation than roleplaying what would happen? 

You could say there’s a fire on the stove, and everyone is in the kitchen. What do you do now, and where do you go? This is a great way to make sure everyone understands what to do, and you can address any potential problems as they come up.

You may also want to teach skills that help them deal with situations like if their clothes catch fire, if they’re trapped in a room, or if they cannot evacuate the building.

#7 – Educate Them on Firefighters

Finally, educate your child on firefighters and their role in fighting fires. 

Take your time to explain that firefighters are trained professionals equipped with the tools and skills to help keep people safe. Explain that firefighters are there to help in the event of a fire and that they should never be afraid to ask for help.

It’s what they’re there for. If you have fire safety days at your local fire station, it’s well worth attending.

Conclusion

It’s important to educate your child on fire safety as an essential aspect of being a parent. 

With these seven tips, you can help your child learn about fire safety and ensure that they are prepared in the event of an emergency. 

And if you’re looking for more advanced and reliable ways to protect your home, check out our services here at Safe and Sound Fire Ltd. We offer all kinds of fire safety measures and professional advice, including supplying fire alarms, camera systems, fire extinguishers, and much more.

Get in touch today and see what we can do for you and your home, school, or local area.​