Everyday Americans experience the tragedy of fire. Each year more than 4,500 Americans die in fires and more than 30,000 are injured. Figures show that each year about 450 people are killed and $300 million in property is destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire.
In an effort to prevent child injuries, fire deaths and fire setting behavior, Selective Insurance encourages parents to teach children at an early age about the dangers of playing with fire. Below are some facts about children and fire safety.
Children under five are curious about fire. What often begins as a natural exploration of the unknown can lead to tragedy.
Children set over 100,000 fires every year.
Children make up between 20-25% of all fire deaths.
About 40% of fires that kill children under five 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 catches fire easily.
Too often, child fire setters are not given proper guidance and supervision by parents and teachers.
Consequently, they repeat their fire setting behavior.
Supervise your young children closely. Do not lave 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 detectors on every level in your home.
Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke detector.
Check the smoke detector each month and replace its batteries at least once a year.
Replace the smoke detector every 10 years.
And remember, having a working smoke detector dramatically increases your whole family's chances of surviving a fire.
To help prevent a fire from starting, closely inspect your home to eliminate potential hazards.
Keep matches, lighters, candles and other heat sources out of children's reach.
Playing with matches and lighters is the leading cause of fire deaths for children
ages 5 and under .
Keep children away from cooking and heating appliances.
Never smoke in bed. Extinguish all cigarettes before leaving home or going to bed.
Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical socket.
Replace old or frayed electrical wires and appliance cords, and keep all cords on
top of rugs.
Store all flammable liquids, such as gasoline, outside of the home
The chances of dying in a residential fire are cut in half when a working smoke alarm is present. Install working smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every level of your home.
Test smoke alarms monthly. Maintain alarms by replacing batteries at least once
a year, and replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Plan and practice two escape routes out of the house and each room.
These should be practiced spontaneously at night, because more than half of fire
deaths in the home occur between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Designate an outside meeting place to make sure all members of the family are
accounted for quickly.
Sleep with bedroom doors closed. This prevents smoke, gas and heat from entering.
Keep furniture and other heavy objects out of the way of doors and windows, so they
won't block an escape.
Children need to be taught what to expect in a fire so they can act quickly. Teach children:
Leave the house immediately if they hear the smoke alarm, smell smoke or see flames. Stay low and
crawl - the best air is by the floor.
Always feel doors before opening them. If hot, do not open and find another way out.
Never go back into a burning building. Children should be reminded not to stop or return for toys,
pets or to call 9-1-1 from inside the burning building.
Call the fire department from neighbor's house or cell phone outside the home.
Do not hide in closets, under beds, in bathtubs, or in other areas of the home.
When firefighters arrive, immediately tell them if someone is inside or missing.
You can help make your community safer for all children.
Get involved in a local fire initiative. To find a SAFE KIDS coalition near you, visit www.safekids.org,
or contact your local fire department.
Find out if your community has laws requiring sprinkler systems and smoke alarms in all homes.
If not, contact your local legislators.
Take a group of children to the local fire station for a tour. Ask the firefighters there to show children
what firefighters look like when they are dressed in their protective clothing, so children will learn not to
be afraid or hide from them.
