Fire
Safety & Prevention Resources
Curious Kids Set Fires:
A Factsheet for Teaching
Children Fire Safety
Source: United
States Fire Administration
Every day Americans experience the tragedy of fire. Each year more than
4,000 Americans die in fires and more than 25,000 are injured. Figures show
that each year about 300 people are killed and $280 million in property is
destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire.
The members of Centerville Fire Rescue encourage parents to teach children
at an early age about the dangers of fireplay in an effort to prevent child
injuries, fire deaths and firesetting behavior in the future. Below are some
facts about children and fire safety.
Curious Kids
Set Fires
- Children under five are curious about fire. Often what
begins as a natural exploration of the unknown can lead to tragedy.
- Children of all ages set over 100,000 fires annually.
Approximately 20,000 of those fires are set in homes.
- Children make up 20% of all fire deaths.
- Over 30% of the fires that kill children are set by children
playing with fire.
- At home, children usually play with fire in bedrooms, in
closets and under beds. These are "secret" places where there
are a lot of things that catch fire easily.
- Too often, child firesetters are not given proper guidance
and supervision by parents and teachers. Consequently, they repeat their
firesetting behavior.
Practice Fire Safety in Your Home
- Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone
even for short periods of time.
- Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
- Have your children tell you when they find matches and
lighters.
- Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence
your child may be playing with fire.
- Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your
children and designate a meeting place outside.
- Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children
that fire is a tool, not a toy.
- Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK
and DEADLY!
- Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get
out quickly and call for help from another location.
- Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the
smoke, to get out of the house and stay out in the case of fire.
- Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if
their clothes catch fire.
- Install smoke alarms on every level in your home.
- Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
- Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery
at least once a year.
- Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended
by the manufacturer.
- Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases
your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape
plan frequently with your family.
For more information contact us we would be happy to speak
with you and answer any questions you have. Contact us by e-mail at Fire
Safety Request
