Fire prevention, safety for your kids

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera.

Kids of all ages should understand how to prevent burns and fires.

From the basics of “stop, drop and roll” to knowing what to do if kids find matches or lighters, education can go a long way toward preventing injuries – or worse.

Parents play an important role in fire safety education, and they have powerful allies in this important work: Avera family life educators and Sioux Falls Fire Rescue make efforts year-round to ensure kids from preschool through elementary age are aware of the safety basics.

Learning the 101 of fire prevention and safety

Children learn fire safety with the help of puppets and the Sioux Falls Fire Rescue mascot, Blaze. When your child brings fire prevention materials home, take time to reinforce the ideas.

Some of them include:

Danger of  matches and lighters

Teach your child that dangerous means “anything that could hurt you” and that if they find something dangerous, they should avoid touching it. Tell a grown-up, and they will put it away.

Stop scalding burns

Every time your child takes a bath or shower, check the water temperature first. Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scald burns that can occur at the sink, shower or tub.

Practice stop, drop and roll

If clothes catch on fire, our instinct tells us to run, but that’s the worst thing you can do because running feeds oxygen to the fire. The best way to smother the fire is to stop, drop onto the ground, stretch out, cover your face with your hands and roll back and forth as fast as you can.

Work on fire alarms at home

During the day, teach children to get out of the house right away. Practice what to do if they’re home alone or what steps to take if the smoke alarm goes off at night too. Make sure kids sleep with the doors to their rooms closed – it’s an expert tip from firefighters.

Fire alarm maintenance

Remember: these lifesaving devices need twice-a-year checks of batteries and replacement about once every 10 years, according to firefighting experts.

Don’t stand up – crawl instead

Since heat and smoke rise, remind them that standing up is not safe. Teach family members to roll onto the floor and crawl to the nearest exit.

You also can teach kids about how to touch the doorknob to check for safety:

• If it is cool, they can open it and crawl to safety.
• If it’s hot, stop. Don’t open the door, and instead seek another exit.

Safety tips in the home

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms on all levels of your home. If you need help with smoke alarm location or installation, contact Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.
• Identify two exits from every area of your home. Practice exiting with your family.
• Set a “family meeting place” outside your house. Make sure everyone knows where to go so you can account for every family member.
• Make sure kids understand what 911 is and how to call that number, no matter how old they are.
• Teach older children how to open windows if they can’t exit through the door. Kids should throw toys and bedding out the window, so firefighters see them.
• Keep matches, lighters and any other fire-starting equipment away from children, even if a lighter says it’s child resistant.
• Turn pot handles to the center or back of the stove top instead of hanging over the front where a child could grab it.
• As your child gets older, teach safe use of the stovetop, microwave and other appliances.

Keep reading

• Preparing kids to stay home alone after school
• Keeping kids safe from poisons

Get more stories and wellness tips at AveraBalance.org.