Every day, at least one child dies from a home fire and more than 290 children are injured by fire and burns. Home fires account for almost 90% of all fire-related deaths, yet 77% of families don’t even have a fire escape plan. October is National Fire Prevention Month, and Safe Kids Georgia wants you to learn how to prevent fires and better protect your children from burns.
Install and maintain smoke alarms
Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by half.
- Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home on every floor, outside all sleeping areas, and in each bedroom.
- Test your smoke alarms once a month to ensure that they are working correctly.
- Replace batteries once a year, or consider installing a long-term battery.
- Smoke alarms expire after 10 years, so if your alarm is older than this, you should install a new one.
Design a fire escape plan for your family
Fire can spread rapidly through a home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds.
- Create and practice a home fire escape plan with at least two ways out in case of emergency.
- Assign one person to get children out safely, but have a back up in case the primary person can’t get to them.
- Keep the emergency plan in a place that your family can see it regularly, such as on the fridge or bulletin board.
- Choose a meeting location that is a safe distance from the home.
- Make sure all windows can be opened quickly and have an escape ladder that fits upstairs windows.
- Have children practice feeling doorknobs and doors with the back of their hands to see if they are too hot.
- Teach children how to drop down low to the floor if there is smoke when they are leaving the home.
Be safe in the kitchen
Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and home fire-related injuries.
- Limit distractions in the kitchen. Focus on the task at hand and never leave an oven or stove top unattended.
- Always supervise children around a hot stove or oven.
- Keep hot pots and pans out of a child’s reach by using the back burner and turning handles away from the edge.
- Keep flammable items such as hand towels and wooden utensils away from the stove.
- Avoid using microwaves to heat baby formula or milk. Heat bottles by placing them in warm water and make sure the temperature is suitable before giving to your baby.
- Have a fire extinguisher within reach in case of emergency.
Watch out for hazards at home
Home fires can start and spread extremely quickly.
- Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
- Always blow out candles after use and store matches and lighters away from children’s reach.
- Place a barrier between children and the fireplace.
- Flammable materials, such as gasoline, should be kept in safe areas where children cannot access them.
- Always keep children at least 3 feet away from a space heater and turn them off when you leave the room.
For more information, please visit http://www.safekids.org/fire.
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