1.) Don’t play with matches and lighters. If you see matches or a lighter where you can reach them, don’t touch them. Go tell a grown up right away.
2.) Ask your parents to install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Smoke detectors can save lives. Ask your parents to show you where each one is located.
3.) Remind your parents to test your smoke detectors every month. Make sure everyone in your family is familiar with its piercing sound. Teach them that this sound means danger, and they must escape quickly.
4.) When your parents change the time on your clocks for Daylight Savings, ask them to change your smoke alarm batteries. Give it fresh batteries and your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping.
5.) In case of fire: DON’T HIDE, GO OUTSIDE! Fires are scary, but you should NEVER hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire.
6.) To escape during a fire; Fall & Crawl. It is easier to breath in a fire if you stay low while getting out. Use the back of your hand to test if a door is hot before you open it. If it is hot, try to use another way out.
7.) If your clothes are on fire; Stop, Drop, and Roll until the fire is out. Shout for help, but don’t run. Running makes fire burn faster.
8.) Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Find two ways out of every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke. Practice escaping by both routes to be sure that windows are not stuck and screens can be taken out quickly.
9.) Choose a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or the end of the driveway, so you will know that everyone has gotten out safely. NEVER go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They have the clothing and equipment to safely rescue people.
10.) Know your local emergency number. Put stickers and magnets with emergency numbers on your refrigerator and every telephone in the house. If there is a fire at your house, choose one family member to leave your meeting place and call the fire department from a neighbor’s phone.