Keeping Kids Healthy: Fire Safety
Published On: November 28, 2006
How do you protect your family from fire in your house or apartment? You really CAN protect them – if you’re just willing to spend a few minutes a year getting it right! Learn what to do from our host, Dr. Winnie King, and a fire inspector who knows how to save kids’ lives. And live through the experience of a family who now knows just how important those few minutes of preparation can be.
Guests:
Nate W Gibbons – Fire Inspector, Connecticut Fire Department
Jim Lazarko & Leah Bytheway – couple whose house burned down
Tips:
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Teach your kids to stay away from fire, matches, candles, stoves.
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Fire is preventable!Start talking about what to do at a very young age to make fire safety a learned behavior.
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Make sure your family has a fire plan and then practice it during the day and at night.
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If you live in an apartment building, know the fire escape routes down the stairs. Memorize your way around the hallways in case it’s dark. You can blindfold your kids and turn this into a game to practice.
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When you leave your apartment, shut doors behind you to contain the fire but leave them unlocked for the fire department.
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Alert your neighbors
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Walk down the stairs
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Get below the fire and call 911
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Make sure you have: flashlights, working smoke detectors, easy access to exits.
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Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are essential. Change the batteries 2x a year, when you change the time on your clocks. Test the batteries weekly.
Resources:
US Fire Administration
www.Usfa.fema.gov
301-447-4000
