Fire Safety Videos (via YouTube)
Click to play, or double-click to launch the web page. From there you can even click the bottom-right button to play "full screen". As with all video media, you should preview the content and make sure it's appropriate before sharing it with your kids. Each movie is less than 10 minutes.
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[Editorial published 8/28/08]
Hi Everybody,
I joined my son's class for a fire station tour in May and learned quite a few things. Some of these tips are the same as we learned decades ago, but new recommendations have been added too. Please take a few minutes to teach your children about Fire Safety.
I. Clothes are on fire
If your clothes are on fire: stop - drop - and roll while covering your face and eyes with your hands. Practice with your kids.
II. Building is on fire
If you hear the smoke detectors go off, get low. "Smoke goes up, we go down". Get down, crawl to move. People need air to breathe and the best air is down near the floor. Before opening a door (such as a bedroom) to leave a room, feel the door and door handle with the back of your hand.
A. If the door and handle are not warm, then open the door a little. If you see smoke, stay low and get out.
B. If the door or handle is warm -- do not open it -- there might be fire on the other side of the door! If it is warm, keep the door closed and go to the window of the room -- do not hide! The firefighters will be looking for kids in the windows. You can help the firefighters find you by putting your hand on the window or hold a piece of clothing up against the glass. Once the firefighter comes to your window and has seen you, they will ask you to stand away from the glass since they may break it to get you out.
For older kids, who are capable of opening a window and managing a rescue ladder, consider adding one to their room. A roll-out ladder can be stored under the bed. Practice with the older child: opening the window, managing the ladder, and escaping to ground level.
III. Firefighters aren't scary
Firefighters wear a lot of equipment when they fight fires. They have a helmet, big coat and boots of course. They also wear masks with a hose to an air tank. These masks, hoses and air tanks make them look very strange and sound almost like Darth Vader. It is important that kids know that these "strange beings" are firefighters -- kids should not run away or hide from them. My daughter was terrified when she first saw a fireman in full gear. I've included links to fire safety videos (You Tube) where you can show your kids firefighters in full gear. Also, look for community fire safety events where your children can meet firefighters.
When a firefighter is in a burning building trying to rescue someone, the firefighter will probably be crawling on the ground and won't be able to hear much. Teach your children that they should go up and actually push on the firefighter to get their attention.
[Continue here from the newsletter's "READ MORE" break.]
IV. Exit strategies
Prior to a fire, make an exit map of your home. Draw two ways to exit from every room (a window, a hallway, a door, etc.) Plan a meeting spot outside your home where your family should gather if they have to exit in a fire emergency. Often this location is a mailbox or tree. Test your smoke detectors so your family knows what they sound like, then practice exiting and meeting up. Kids should know to just get out -- they don't need to find their brothers, sisters, toys, or pets before leaving -- just get to the meeting place. Teach kids that they must, "Get out! and Stay out!" Firefighters will go into their house to rescue people, pets, and toys. Only firefighters should enter a burning building, everyone else should stay out!
Teach your children to be safe!
..Jill
Local to Boulder/Denver
There are activities every week at the
Denver Firefighters Museum (near the capitol).
Cherryvale Fire District offers
birthday parties at fire stations for kids who live in the district. If you know of other local districts offering similar programs, please drop a line.
Fire Prevention Week is mid-October, but all year round there are fire safety events at the community level. For example, this Saturday 8/30/08 (11am-4pm) there will be fire safety demonstrations at the
Boulder Creek Hometown Fair in the Municipal Building parking lot.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 August 2008 )
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