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| FIRE PREVENTION |
| http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm Month is every October But never stop thinking fire safety and awareness!! ALL ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION WEEK/MONTH Fire Prevention Week was established in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire. The fire occurred in 1871 and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. Because the fire did most of its damage on October 9th, to this day, Fire Prevention Week always occurs in the week of October 9th. In 1922, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day. Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. Kids and Fire Teach children what fire is really like. Real fire isn’t like the fire kids see in movies. Real fire is hotter, darker and faster than most people realize. Especially kids. Help you children understand fire’s truly dangerous nature and they’ll be more likely to treat fire with respect. Matches and lighters: Out of sight. Out of reach. Sadly, a number of children who die in fires set them all by themselves. Keeping matches and lighters hidden where kids can’t reach them is still on of the most effective methods of fire prevention. Remember: Out of sight, out of reach, out of danger. Keep a closer eye. Children seem to have a natural curiosity about fire. When they’re under your supervision, it’s important to know what they’re doing at all times. And if you leave children to the care of other adults, be sure to discuss fire play and safety issues beforehand. Understanding fire play. Children play with fire for different reasons. Most are merely curious. Some are trying to get attention. Still others may have more serious issues which need to be addressed. Talk to your children about fire and other family issues affecting them. It’s important to remember that fire play, like all behavior. Is affected by your child’s overall emotional well-being. Children are naturally curious about fire. However, most don’t understand the real dangers or consequences. Many children think they can control a fire, when in reality a fire can get out of hand very quickly. The consequences of just one fire play incident can be devastating to a family and community. In addition to burn injury, loss of life and property damage, families can be held financially and legally responsible. As a parent, here are some steps you can take to help keep your child and family safe: · Find out what your child already knows about fire safety. This gives you a foundation to build on. · Put matches, lighters and ignition devices in a safe, secure place. Treat these items as you would a dangerous weapon. Ask your children where the matches and lighters are located in your house; you’ll be surprised to learn what they know. · Set clear rules and expectations. Young children should "tell" a grown-up if they find matches and lighters so adults can put them in a secure place. As children get older they can "give" the ignition devices to you. When you feel it is appropriate, teach children how to use fire in a safe and appropriate manner, under adult supervision. · Talk about peer pressure and what your child should do if they are around other kids who are playing with fire. Even if your child is simply watching, they can still get in trouble for just being there. Teach them to leave the situation and report it to an adult. · Talk about the consequences of fire property damage, injury, and loss of life. If you had a fire, how would it change your life and the lives of others? There can also be legal consequences children may be unaware of. Starting at age 12, children can be charged for setting a fire. · Make sure your child is being supervised. Most children who play with fire have easy access to ignition devices and are not being supervised at the time of the incident. · Practice fire safety in your home. Install and maintain smoke detectors, take measures to prevent fires, and develop and practice a home escape plan. · Children play with fire for many reasons. Young children may set fires out of curiosity or as a cry for help. Older adolescents may set fires as a prank or dare. Whatever the motivation, early identification and intervention is critical. For help with kids and fires: http://www.burninstitute.org/fbp/factsheets/playing.html Fire safety links for parents, children, and teachers: |
| Information Borrowed from: www.cccfpd.org, http://www.piercefire.org/pcfd5/kids_and_fire.htm |