Advice for Parents of Young Children
Measures to keep your children safe
- Don’t leave children on their own in a room where there is a fire risk.
- Never let them play near the oven and range or cook top.
- Keep matches, lighters, candles and tea lights out of reach of children or in a locked cupboard.
- Put a childproof fireguard in front of an open fire or heater.
- Don’t let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater.
- Keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can’t be knocked over when they are being used or stored.
- Place plug guards into sockets so children can’t stick anything into the holes.
- Keep your fire escape route clear of toys and other obstructions.
Teach your children what to do if there is a fire
Simple instructions can be easily remembered:
- If you see smoke or fire, raise the alarm and tell a grown up immediately.
- Get out of the building as soon as possible. Go to the house next door if you can and ask them to call 911.
- If there is smoke in the room, crawl low along the floor.
- Never hide in a closet, or under the bed. Do all you can to raise the alarm and get out.
- If the way out is blocked, go into a room with a window. Put blankets or towels at the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in. If there is a phone in the room, dial 911. If there isn’t a phone, open the window and shout – help!
- Don’t go back into the house, not even for people or pets.