What your children should know?

You will want to make sure children are always safe. This includes teaching them how to prevent a fire and what to do if there is one.

You will probably need to talk about fire safety with children more than once, to make sure that they have remembered and understood what you have taught them.

As a general rule younger children, around five and below, should be given clear instructions about what they should and shouldn’t do. With older children, it’s better to explain why.

It’s important that they know how to prevent a fire:

• Not to touch or play with matches, lighters, candles, electrical appliances or sockets.
• To tell a grown up if they see matches or lighters lying around.
• To be extra careful near fires and heaters.
• Never to switch on the cooker.
• Not to touch saucepans.
• Not to put things on top of heaters or lights.

Share these safety messages with your children so they know what to do in the event of a fire.

Tell them:

• If you see smoke or flames tell a grown-up straight away.
• Get out of the building as quickly as you can if there is a fire.
• Don’t go back for anything, even toys or pets.
• Find a phone. (You might need to go to the neighbours to find one)
• Call 999. Ask for the fire and rescue service and tell them your address. (You might  want to practice making this call with your children and will need to make sure they know their address).
• Only call 999 in a real emergency.
• Never hide if there is a fire.
• Get out as quickly as you can.
• If there’s smoke, crawl along the floor (the air will be clearer down there).
• Go into a room with a window if the way out is blocked.
• Put bedding or towels along the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in.
• Open the window and call “HELP! FIRE!”.

Originally posted by Avon Fire and Rescue