There is no way around it. First, fire safety is crucial for people of every age to understand and fear. However, there is a particular vulnerability for children due to fire. Blazes kill hundreds of Americans each year, with higher proportions for children.

These fires can strike anywhere– including in the home, at school or work, or on the open road. Each is a challenge that should come with the proper warnings and discussions.

Ehline Law writes this column as a means to keep our children safe from the risks of fire. We use our dozens of years of legal and practical experience for parents everywhere.

Be Cool About Fire Safety

As Rich Evans said, “Be cool about fire safety.” There is little room for error when dealing with potential flame hazards. However, you can do several things to teach your children the basics of preventing fires and reacting to them.

• Teach children the basics of the causes of fires. Keep them away from matches and lighters. They should understand the potential risk of each presence. Furthermore, they should follow which materials are flammable and a potential hazard.
• Stop, drop, and roll. This technique has been constant since your days in school. It’s the same as it was at the time.

What to do in case of a fire:

• Most importantly, teach your children many basics, including touching doors to see if they are hot, potential evacuation routes, and staying close to the ground. Many fire deaths are not due to the fire itself but rather suffocation.
• Also, keep smoke alarms where they are needed. Don’t skimp on the number of smoke alarms around the house, especially around kids’ rooms.
• Keep accessible fire extinguishers. Could you keep them in logical places? And teach kids how to use them if ever needed. Hopefully, that day will never come.