Steps You Can Take To Improve Your Kids' Safety During a Home Fire

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

Follow These Tips To Improve Your Kids' Safety During a Home Fire in your North St. Paul, MN property.

Imagining your home and family being threatened by fire can be scary, but when you and your children are prepared for this scenario, you'll all feel a little more confident. Your children may have participated in fire drills at school in North St. Paul, MN, now it's time for them to run through these drills at home as well. Regular practice is crucial for your kids safety.

Focus on Kids Safety

During Fires According to the National Fire Protection Association, it only takes a minute or two for fire to spread through your home and prevent safe evacuation. However, there are several things you can do to improve your chances:

• Install fire alarms in each bedroom, hallway, and floor of the home.
• Close bedroom doors while sleeping.
• Create fire escape plans and practice them regularly.
• Teach and practice fire safety with your children.

Install Fire Alarms

There are two types of smoke detectors, and experts recommend that you have both or a device that combines both types of technology. Once you’ve installed an appropriate number of alarms, make sure you replace batteries once or twice a year, keep them clean and free of debris, and know when to replace the alarms.

Close Bedroom Doors

According to firefighters, roughly half of residential fires happen while the family is asleep. The good news is that closed doors reduce smoke damage, slow the spread of the fire, and help family members stay safe. During a fire, the closed bedroom door helps keep the room's temperature below 100 degrees Fahrenheit, improves oxygen levels in the room, and reduces the level of carbon monoxide.

Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan

Your fire escape plan should have tips for helping children who can't escape on their own, a meeting place outside of the home, and multiple paths of escape. Work with family members to pinpoint multiple routes of evacuation, including windows. Teach children to leave the home immediately, not even stopping to call 911, gather belongings, or look for other family members.

Reach out to your local fire department for more education and child-based resources. It isn't uncommon for children to feel frightened at the sight of firefighters, so the more familiar they are with the uniforms, tools, and sounds, the better.

Teach and Practice Fire Safety

The U.S. Fire Administration also provides resources you can use to teach your children basic fire safety and what to do during a home fire. These lessons must include ways to prevent fire, and you must also teach your children vital steps, such as checking for heat, smoke, and flames before opening doors, where to stay if they cannot get out of their rooms, and what to do if their clothes catch on fire. Your kids' safety improves with each home fire drill and teaching session you practice.

In the Event of a Fire …

Even with plenty of fire prevention and kids safety steps, your home may still be affected by a fire. When this happens, fire damage cleanup and repair professionals can help with the reconstruction efforts while you focus on the well-being of your family members.

The more you can do before a fire, the better prepared you and your children will be for getting through the experience safely.