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No one wants to think about a house fire and how devastating they can be. But taking the time to talk to your children will ensure they know how to respond when they see smoke or hear a fire alarm. The guide below offers advice for teaching them preparedness.

3 Steps for Educating Kids About House Fires 

1. Decide on an Escape Route

Think about where your kids spend the most time and determine the best escape route for them to take. Also, establish a safe meeting point a safe distance away from the house, such as a mailbox or end of a driveway. Remind them it is not safe to linger—even to recover valuable or sentimental items—and that they should, under no circumstances, go back inside a burning building.

2. Teach Them Proactive & Reactive Measures

If you have older children, they might be left at home occasionally. Warn them against leaving candles or stoves unattended or turning on a space heater while it’s too close to the wall.

fire alarmIf a fire alarm does go off, your kids should know how to get out safely—for example, by crawling on the floor through smoke-filled rooms and testing doorknobs before grasping them. Hot knobs should be turned with a piece of cloth instead of their hand. Teaching them to use a fire extinguisher can also help save their life. If they do catch on fire, they should instantly “stop, drop, and roll.”

3. Practice Makes Perfect

To be safe, run fire drills at home. If there is a chance they might have to exit through a window, practice this as well, making sure that the screen is easily removable or that the lock is not stuck. In addition to testing your family, test your fire alarms on a regular basis and replace the batteries as needed.

 

Fire readiness can save lives. In addition to teaching your kids the above strategies, make sure to have fire alarms and extinguishers in your house. GMW Fire Protection, in Anchorage, AK, offers fire suppression systems for residential and commercial properties. Visit the website to see all their services. Call (907) 336-5000 for a consultation.

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