Prevent Your Child from Starting Fires

3/1/2018 (Permalink)

The aftermath of a house fire accidentally by child playing with matches.

The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 300 people are killed and $280 million in property is destroyed each year as the result of children playing with fire.

As you can see in this picture this was an extensive fire. This fire was due to a child playing with matches. The fire originally started in the bedroom when is spread quickly throughout the home. Thankfully everyone got out safe and the fire department was able to put out the flames.

Tragically, many home fires are started by children playing with dangerous household items – especially lighters and matches. Taking sensible precautions in the home and teaching your child how to escape from a fire can help your family avoid this type of heartbreak.

Prevent Your Child from Starting Fires

Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of your child’s reach. Only use lighters with child-resistant features.

Invest in flameless candles. These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your child knocking over a candle.

 Help Your Child Survive a Fire

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Once a month check whether each alarm in the home is working properly by pushing the test button. Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warning the battery is low.

•  Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.

•  Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home, and where to meet up outside.

•  Practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.

•  Emphasize “get out, stay out.” Only professional firefighters should enter a building that is on fire—even if other family members, pets or prized possessions are inside.

• Use quick-release devices on barred windows and doors. Security bars without release devices can trap you in a deadly fire. If you have security bars on your windows, be sure one window in each sleeping room has a release device.

• Consider getting escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them, and store them near the windows.

• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

If you have a house fire of any sort. Call SERVPRO of North Central San Antonio today at: (210) 899-1017 or visit our website at:

http://www.SERVPROnorthcentralsanantonio.com