Keeping Children Safe During a House Fire

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

House fires are devastating and everyone in the home should be prepared in the event it happens. When a fire breaks out, children in the home are most at risk, so it is extremely important to teach them fire safety. 

To start, every level of your home should be equipped with a smoke alarm. Once a month check to make sure each alarm is working and if you hear a chirping sound that means the batteries need to be replaced. Make sure your child knows exactly what the fire alarm sounds like so once they hear it, they know to start their fire evacuation plan.

Your fire plan should include a layout of your home and where the closest exit is to each area of the house. Mixing serious topics with play is a great way to teach your kid their escape route. Play a firefighter game to have them exit the home, or switch the lyrics to their favorite song to explain how to escape. 

When children are escaping make sure they understand there will be thick, dark smoke and visibility will be low. Teach kids never to touch door handles with their bare palms as they might get burnt. Teach them to crawl through the home to get to the exit and once they get out to stay out. 

Make sure children know where they can go to once they exit the home. If you have a yard, plant a tree away from the home in your together as a signifier as the meeting spot. Instill in your children that if they catch on fire to stop, drop, and roll. 

By following these tips you are ensuring the safety of your child and giving you peace of mind that everyone in your family is properly educated on fire safety. If your home suffers fire damage, call SERVPRO® of Kenner, Harahan, & Lakeview to mitigate and restore your home back to its pre-fire condition.