Child Fire Safety

Child fire safety is every parent's responsibility.

These days children in school are fortunate to have fire drills and fire safety events.

Many schools have firefighters come to assemblies to teach the children fire safety.

But it is still important to reiterate fire safety in the home and on the streets.

• Children make up 20% of all fire deaths.


• Every year kids set over 100,000 fires. About 20,000 of those are set in homes.
• Children as young as age two can strike a match and start a fire.
• Over 30% of the fires that kill children are set by children playing with fire.
• Most child fire-play incidents involve matches or lighters, so keep these locked up and out of reach of children.

Each year, fires kill and injure hundreds of children. Most of these deaths and injuries are preventable.

Learn some simple tips to protect your children and lower their risk.

Any time parents can take a moment to discuss safety with their children is time well spent.

To get you started with teaching your child fire safety, consider the following tips:

• Keep all matches and lighters out of the hands of children. If possible, keep these sources of fire in locked drawers. Consider buying only "child-proof" lighters -- but be aware that no product is completely child-proof.
• To ensure your child's fire safety, find out what the federal safety standards are for children’s pajamas and loose-fitting sleepwear, before you make your next purchase.
• Smoke from a fire can kill very quickly. Sleep with bedroom doors closed at night to help keep smoke out and increase the amount of time you have to get yourself and your children out if you have a fire.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher, and keep it in the kitchen out of the reach of small children.
• Discourage smoking in your home.
• Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
• Install smoke alarms on every level in your home. Replace the batteries once a year. Test them periodically.
• Teach your child how to dial 911 in case of an emergency.
• Tell your children to remember not to hide under a bed or in a closet during a fire. Parents need to be able to find them quickly.

Child fire safety is crucial and it needs to be taught. Children copy adults.

So if you are lighting matches and smoking or lighting candles, chances are your child will be interested in doing the same.

Child Firework Safety

Child Electrical Safety

National Fire Protection Association

United States Fire Administration(USFA)

Child Fire Safety at firesafety.gov

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