Children and Fire: A Deadly and Dangerous Combination

Fires are able to start from nearly anywhere in the home, and can quickly turn your humble abode into an inferno of smoke and fire. One important way of keeping your home and family safe is by fire proofing your house.

Typically, when children start an in-home fire, they do so with either a match or a lighter. Too many children know how to light matches at an early age, or have been taught how to light a lighter. Naturally curious, children often find making fire irresistible. Sadly, this curiosity can lead to serious injury or even death. If your child starts exhibiting signs of finding fire a little too enticing, you can find a local counselor to try and teach them better ways to express desire or emotions. Most arsonists played with matches and lighters at a very young age. To help keep your children from getting too curious, put matches and lighters in a place your child will not be able to run across them-whether up high or in a locked cabinet.

Teach your child about fire safety. Many children will simply hide when faced with a fire rather than trying to find safety. Cover how to leave a room if a fire starts and emphasize it is important to not hide. Children will generally hide in a closet or under the bed if frightened. Most often, that is where bodies are found by firemen. In order to help prepare your child, have practice fire drills at least three times a year. These drills may seem silly, but they will help your child have confidence in the face of emergency.

Children are often injured when their clothing catches fire after standing too close to heaters, burners, open flames, or matches. If your child knows what fire can do can help him or her learn to respect fire from a distance. One thing you ought to teach children from a very young age is the oft-repeated "stop, drop, and roll" to help them learn to avoid the natural impulse to run. Helping them to understand the simple phrase can help your children avoid debilitating injuries or even death. Also teach your children to only go near fire when there is someone responsible over the age of about fourteen around. Unattended children get into trouble.

Prior to the 1970's, children's sleepwear could be made of any material. Currently, the sleepwear must be flame retardant, which has helped lower the rate of child deaths due to fire by over ninety percent. The abrupt switch in statistics was enough to convince people to start teaching their children of fire safety. Today, many children sleep in shorts and t-shirts, which are not made of flame retardant material. Read the label to ensure the safety of your child. Take active steps to teach your children-you may save their lives.