Teaching Fire Safety Awareness
Don't Play With Fire...
Learn from it!
With wildfire season heading at us, I wanted to create a lesson plan centered around fire, and fire safety in our home school studies. Living in an area where wildfires are frequent sparked me to not only address the fire hazards that can occur outdoors, but indoors as well. I knew that educating my children on fire prevention, awareness, and the- hopefully never needed- fire escape plan was of upmost importance, and the earlier taught the better.
Having experienced the scare of the 2003 California wildfires and having had a close friend lose her home, I saw the devastation fires can cause, and the helplessness they leave in their wake. Knowing what to do when caught in a fire is one of the most valuable lessons to carry with you in life, even if you never have to use it.
So just how to teach this valuable training on to young ones?
Here's a great start.
Start With Prevention
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 300 people are killed each year as a result of children playing with fire.
Ensure to keep lighters, matches, and other flammable substances out of children's reach. Use lighters with child resistant features.
Use flameless candles that contain a light bulb rather than an open flame.
Explain that if ever they see a lighter, or matches, that they should immediately tell an adult.
Additionally, you could set up a mock fire scene and have the kids play the role of a fire detectives. Have them search the scene for items that could have been the cause of the fire in the scene.
Get a FREE printable fire scene and fire investigator sheet HERE!
To help further understanding, also print this fire safety workbook. Take time together to review the practices and information covered in the booklet.
Staying Safe
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
In addition, install them inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Check the smoke alarms each month by pressing the test button.
Get the kids involved by having them search for and point out the smoke alarms in the home. Together test each smoke alarm in the house and replace the batteries if needed.
Drill Time.
To be better prepared, teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what they should do if they hear one.
For practice, unexpectedly play the sound of a fire alarm- either your own or a recording- and observe what they're reactions are. From here, review a fire plan and any opportunities for improved reactions.
Plan a fire escape.
Having a known and practiced escape plan and meeting spot is crucial.
Make a map of the home for each child and have them draw their escape route. Once done, compare to each other's. Are they the same? Is the route efficient? Where did their route take them? Together make a new map and plan a route and meeting spot. Sound the alarm and put it to practice.
Surviving A Fire
Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
Take turns dialing on an old phone or toy phone, and reciting what information to necessary to give operators.
Emphasize "get out, stay out."
Explain how nothing is more valuable than their lives and that once out of a burning building, only trained professionals should go in. Make it a game! Jump through a doorway and together say "get out", once through to the other side, slam the door and shout "stay out!" Repeat the game a few times so the idea keeps with them.
Stop, Drop, Roll
Practice the steps to use if their clothes should catch on fire. Visit here for a fun and helpful video that demonstrates the steps so they can practice along.
Teaching children through game play and practicing fire safety regularly will instill the importance of knowing what to do in the event of a fire.
Don't Let The Flame Go Out!
There's More To Learn.
For The Complete Fire Lesson Plan Visit Here.
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