TEACHING PRESCHOOLERS TO BE FIRE SAFE

Children at Risk

Tragically, children age five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Most fire fatalities involving preschool children fall into four categories-fires the children start themselves, fires caused by heating equipment, fires resulting from careless use of smoking materials, and arson fires.

Preschool and kindergarten teachers and parents can make a difference by teaching fire safety in a way that young children can understand.

It's a proven fact that providing these lessons early can save lives.

To be successful, a preschool fire-safety program must involve both the children and their parents. Through the activities described in this brochure, young children can encourage the adults in their households to be aware of home fire hazards and to be better prepared for a fire.

Match andLighter Safety

Young children should learn that matches and lighters are tools, not toys-that they can get hot and hurt children and that they are for grown-ups only. The message should be clear: Children should not touch matches or lighters. If they find matches or lighters, they should tell a grown-up.

Each year, many fires are started accidentally by children playing with matches or lighters. Get the message to parents. Buy child-resistant lighters and store matches and lighters up high, preferably in a locked cabinet. And tell them to remind guests who smoke to keep their matches and lighters with them while visiting.

 

Escaping from a Fire

Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flame. Their bodies are found in closets and under beds. When talking with children about what to do in a fire, emphasize that they cannot hide from fire, but they can escape.

Children need to learn that a smoke detector warns them of danger from fire and that when they hear the warning sound, they should get out of the building.

At home and at school, children should know a proper fire-escape plan. Hold frequent fire drills and encourage both children and their parents to have a similar fire-escape plan at home.

An escape plan should include knowing two ways out of every room, in case one exit is blocked by smoke or flames, and being familiar with every possible exit from the home. Encourage families to decide on a meeting place outside, where everyone in the household can gather after they've escaped. This will tell parents if anyone has been left inside. Children should know to "Get out and stay out." Never go back into a burning building.

Crawl Low Under Smoke

Teach preschoolers to use an alternative exit if they encounter smoke during their escape from a fire. If they must escape through smoke, they should crawl on their hands and knees close to the floor, where the air will be cleaner.

 

Stop, drop, and roll

Even young children can learn this simple maneuver that could save their lives if their clothing catches fire. "Stop, drop, and roll" is easy and fun to practice in the classroom.

Stop: Stop where you are. Don't run!

Drop: Drop to the ground.

Roll: Cover your face with your hands to protect it from flameand roll over and over to smother the flames.

Activities forPreschoolers

Toys versus Tools

Have the children collect pictures from magazines of things that are safe to play with, such as bikes and balls, and things that are not, such as matches, lighters, and cars. Put the cut-out pictures in a box, draw them out one at a time, and have the children say if the object is safe or unsafe.

Crawling Under Smoke

 

as part of a fire drill. Have adults assist by stretching out a bedsheet 2 feet above the floor to represent the "pretend" smoke at some point along the exit route. Have the children crawl under the sheet to an exit

Thinking Ahead

Have the children act out what they would do in specific fire situations. Suggest possible scenarios, such as "Pretend you wake up and there's smoke in your bedroom," or "Pretend you're helping in the kitchen and your sleeve catches fire."

Taking the Message Home

Encourage young children to take the fire-safety message home by asking them to talk with their families about home fire-escape plans. Make fire-safety information part of meetings with parents and send information home on child-resistant lighters and the importance of smoke detectors, fire-escape plans, meeting places, and smoke alarms.