How To Teach Kids To Escape a Fire

12/28/2018 (Permalink)

Every family needs a fire escape plan, and parents should teach kids safety measures. Be sure to schedule regular drills to make sure kids know how to escape from a home fire.

Make an Escape Plan

The most important fire safety measure is an escape plan. This plan should cover:

• Primary and secondary routes
  
• Kid-safe strategies
  
• A meeting point outside
  

Parents and kids should practice using all escape routes. Kids should know where to go and what to do in the event of a fire.

Bed Rolls

If a child is awoken by a fire alarm, they should know to roll over rather than sit upright. Have kids practice:

• Rolling over in bed
  
• Keeping their heads low and facing down toward the floor
  
• Putting a hand down
  
• Sliding out of bed onto the floor
  

You may want to sound a fire alarm during drills. Rolling out of bed can limit exposure to heat and smoke.

Fire Crawls

Heat and smoke rise during a fire. Crawling will keep kids in the coolest area with access to the clearest air. There are several types of kids safety fire crawls:

• Crawling on all fours
  
• Crawling on all fours with flat forearms
  
• Crawling with legs flat on the floor
  

These methods can help kids escape a home fire. Practice crawls during drills.

How to Check Doors

Opening a door during a fire without checking can result in burns or sudden ignition. Checking a door involves:

• Pressing a door with the back of a hand
  
• Leaving hot doors closed
  
• Cracking open cool or slightly warm doors
  
• Proceeding if clear and re-closing doors
  

These fire escape methods are useful for children and adults. Keep in mind that regular drills are necessary for all family members.

After ensuring kids safety, homeowners may be faced with severe damage to a home in Prairie Village, KS. A damage mitigation and restoration service can make it possible for a family to return home as soon as possible.