What fire precautions should you take if you have children? There are certain fire-causing elements to keep away from children. Children should be warned of fire hazards that exist in a home as well as in...
Children should be warned of fire hazards that exist in a home as well as in outdoor settings. Encourage children to be honest about their activities that may result in a fire starting or spreading. Also, let them know that they should immediately report any fire to an adult regardless of how it got started. A child should never attempt to conceal a fire or try to put it out on his or her own. Parents likewise should not yell at a child who reports a fire to them. Deal with the emergency first and then go back and determine how it started and if any lectures or punishment should be handed down to children involved in the situation. It is more important to get out of an emergency situation resulting from a fire than it is to lay blame with how it got started. Time is important so don't waste it arguing about something you can't change at this point.
Kitchens are an area where many house fires begin. Heather Caldwell is the communications manager for Kidde, one of the largest manufacturing companies of fire safety products. Caldwell suggests, "Don't leave a pot on a stove unattended. If you are letting your children cook some things, make sure that you are there watching them. Never leave children unsupervised in the kitchen. Never leave the house with something in the oven." Many fires are the result of carelessness, neglect, or lack of attention to safety measures. Making note of potential hazards in advance and taking steps to reduce these risks will go a long way to keep your home safe from accidental fires.
It is a good idea to have a smoke detector and fire extinguisher in or very near the kitchen area so if something on the stove or in the oven catches fire you can respond quickly and contain the fire before it can spread or cause addition injury or damage. It is also important to learn the different types of fires that can occur and use the proper tools to put it out. Never put water on a grease fire. It is recommended to have a multifunctional extinguisher on hand for kitchen fires. Class B fires typically involve grease or flammable liquids while Class C fires generally involve electrical fires. Fire extinguishers will also contain numeric rating codes on them to serve as a guide to how large a fire they can handle. Higher numbers indicate more effectiveness in containing a fire. The best protection for your kitchen area may be a BC extinguisher that contains sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. This dry chemical formula may leave a mild corrosive deposits on the area where used. If this residue is immediately cleaned up after use it will help to prevent further damage to the surface that was sprayed.
Caldwell also recommends, "Talk to your children about the dangers of playing with matches, and keep matches and other flammable items out of the reach of children. Children are by nature curious about fire. That's why it is very important that parents talk to them about the dangers of fire." Cigarettes and candles left burning and unattended are huge risks in any home especially when children are present. Caldwell adds, "If you are going to light candles in the home, make sure the candles are on hard nonporous surfaces. Make sure they are not in a container. Don't just light a candle on a glass table. Keep candles away from curtains." Even if a child does not disturb or play with these items a fire may still occur by accident so be very careful with their use. Never leave candles burning when you leave the house or go to sleep. Make sure all candles and cigarettes are completely out when you are finished with them or will not be able to fully monitor them. Don't assume the flame is fully extinguished without rechecking it. You may think the item is out but it may actually still be smoldering and ignite a flame again much later without your knowledge. It is a good idea to permanently put out a match or cigarette by running water over it to eliminate any chance of it becoming lit again.
Discussing the dangers of fire with your children is important so that you both realize the potential risks and can develop a plan for dealing with an emergency situation. Children should immediately notify an adult of a hazard that exists or if they spot any fire burning. Keep matches, flammable materials, lighters, and combustible materials away from children and advise them to tell you if they find any that are in their reach. Do not let the children bring the items to you or have them attempt to move them to another location. You should be notified and then clear the area yourself. Space heaters are another thing children should stay clear regardless of if the item is in use of turned off. If a child were to touch a heater that is hot or happen to turn it over a burn, fire, or injury could result.
Common sense and good communication are key elements in teaching fire prevention to children. Lack of understanding and carelessness can be reduced if you conduct fire safety discussions and have fire safety plans in place for your family. Escape plans and fire drills should be developed and practiced by all family members. Prevention is the best tool anyone can use to battle a fire with. Once the fire begins or gets out of control it is then best to call 911 and let professional trained rescue teams handle the situation for you to get the fire under control.
