Talk to Children about Home Fire Safety

The American Red Cross is offering tips parents to reduce their risk of fires and talk with their children about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week.

“Parents can reduce their risk of home fires by taking a few simple steps,” said Janienne Bella, Red Cross Central and Western Oklahoma Regional CEO. “We want families to have the information and resources they need to educate their children and reduce their risk of a home fire tragedy.”

The American Red Cross recommends that adults:

–  Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of the reach of children.

–  Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability standards. Avoid loose-fitting, 100-percent cotton garments.

–  Develop and practice your home fire escape plan with your children at least twice a year.

–  Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and teach them what to do when they hear it.

–  Teach your children not to be scared of firefighters. Take them to your local fire department to meet them, see the gear they wear, and learn about fire safety and prevention.

–  Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.

–  Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches; evidence your child may be playing with fire.

–  Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Having a working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information, visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. To learn more go online to www.okc.redcross.org .