Last week Good Morning America reported that 80 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 13 do not wake up from a standard issue fire alarm. The Houston Fire Department can’t stress enough about the importance of creating a fire escape plan for your family.
A successful fire escape plan can help save lives. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when creating a plan:
– Don’t make assumptions: Never assume that a child will wake up from a fire alarm. To help ensure everyone makes it out of the house safely, assign a parent or adult to each child and make sure they know to check on them in the event of a fire.
– Plan for the unexpected: The front door may be blocked or a window may get stuck. Make sure you and your family are prepared for every scenario and have alternative exit strategies.
– Practice: This is crucial and helps ensure that everyone understands the escape plan and can perform it in the event of a fire.
– Share your plan: Make sure your babysitters, friends, and family know the escape plan in case you are not in the household when fire strikes.
Teaching fire safety to children is incredibly important. The recent creation of the play safe! be safe! website offers interactive games for preschool aged children that teach them important lessons about fire safety like identifying fire-causing items and how to evacuate a burning house. Let’s work together on spreading fire safety awareness to families and implementing processes in our own homes.
For a free fire safety guidebook from the Houston Fire Department, visit their website here.
