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Fire Safety for the Family
By J Gardener
Statistically, you'll probably never experience the tragedy of a catastrophic
fire in your home. But, statistically, if you do, your family's chances of
survival are greatly increased, if, as a family, you've planned for the
possibility.
Planning begins with prevention. Just as you teach your children about the
dangers of drugs and alcohol (or, with younger children, the dangers of eating
or drinking something they shouldn't), parents should also teach children-even
young ones-about the dangers of matches, lighters, and electrical cords. Just as
you child-proof your home against injury, you should also be vigilant about fire
hazards.
According to www.mcgruff.org, over 100,000 fires each year are started by
children, over thirty percent of the fires that kill children are started by
children, and two-thirds of these are set by children playing with matches and
lighters in their bedrooms.
So, not only is it necessary to discourage children from playing with
combustible materials, it's necessary to explain to them why. It's equally
important to teach children neither to play around nor to touch stoves,
furnaces, lamp fixtures, or any appliance with heating capability.
Smoke alarms are probably the most important tool in any fire prevention
arsenal. There should be at least one on each floor of the home, especially near
bedrooms. But, if you're ever awakened by a smoke detector don't assume the same
of your children-younger kids often sleep right through the alarm-you'll need to
plan on waking them, yourself. Test your smoke detectors at least once a
month-it only takes a second.
As a family, develop an escape plan, in case of fire. In multi-level homes,
several different escape plans could be necessary, to cover all the
possibilities-a downstairs fire, an upstairs fire, etc. If your escape plan
includes opening windows, inspect your windows often-especially children's
windows-to make sure they open easily and quickly. Make sure your children know
how to unlock and open your doors, quickly. Teach them how to dial 9-1-1, and
what to say to the dispatcher-your name, address, and the nature of the
emergency.
Practice your escape plans at least once a month, and more often, if
necessary, to ensure smooth
execution. Make it a pre-bedtime game for the whole family. The more often your
kids have a run through of the plan, the less likely they'll be to panic in a
real emergency, and the more likely everyone in your family will be to survive,
unharmed.
If you remodel your home, re-form your escape plan. Doors may be in different
places, and new windows may open differently, and each second in your escape is
precious.
Plan a specific meeting place, outside, where each family member can reach quickly. Many fire deaths occur, when people who've
escaped rush back in to burning houses, to check for family members who haven't been accounted for.
These and many more tips can be found at www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety
.
Statistically, you'll probably never need to implement your escape plan. But,
if you have one ready, you'll sleep easier at night, knowing your family is as
prepared as they can
be. About the Author This article was brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For a safe and fun place online for your children this holiday season visit the official Santa Claus Web Site.
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