Building Fire Safety Habits With Your Children | SERVPRO of West Forsyth County
6/10/2023 (Permalink)
Parenting can be an emotional rollercoaster, with both triumphs and trials, but persevering through these obstacles to support your child’s learning and growth is what makes this journey so worth it. This requires teaching your kids some lessons that may be a little difficult, both to teach and to learn.
Fire safety is one of those lessons. While the topic can be a little scary for kids, it’s an important one that must be taught.
You don’t need to be nervous about bringing the topic of fire safety to your household! There are a ton of methods to ensure your kids retain this information without overwhelming them in the process.
Explain the Dangers of Fire
Highlighting your home’s specific risks will be the most effective way to help your children gain a strong understanding of these principles. Teaching kids how and where fire might spark in your home is just one way to teach fire safety in a way that helps this information really stick.
As you point out specific examples around the house, don’t forget to bring up the danger that matches and lighters can cause. Engaging in a serious discussion about fire hazards will effectively convey to your children the importance of treating such items with the utmost caution and promptly handing them to an adult when found.
Familiarize Them With Authority
Young children may find firefighters in full uniform intimidating, which can be dangerous when an emergency arises and they must rely on these individuals for help. Consider taking your child to local events that will allow them to connect positively with these heroes, and show them books and videos that highlights the hard work firefighters do.
Let them know that these individuals only want to lend a hand in the middle of an emergency. Discuss their duties and the importance of relying on them during a fire. Try to turn your fire drills into a fun game like seeing who can stop, drop and roll the quickest.
Make a Game Plan Together
Don’t overlook the importance of having a fire evacuation plan for your household! Encourage your kids to help in planning the escape route, allowing them to feel involved and generating a plan that everyone at home can understand. Turn it into an art project by challenging them to draw the emergency plan as quickly as possible.
Consider highlighting other exits your family can access in the event that the original route is obstructed during a fire. Remind your children that using windows as a means of escape should only be done in the event of a fire and never while playing.
Once you’ve crafted your unique strategy, designate a safe meeting place outside your home that is within reach for everyone after evacuation. Make it a routine to practice your strategy a few times a year, and ensure your kids know how to dial 911!
Fires can cause widespread damage. Call us for a thorough and efficient restoration.