Video:Plan a Home Fire Drillwith Kathy Moore
Do your children know how to get out of the house in the event of a fire? The best way to prepare your kids for a potential home fire is to have practice fire drills.See Transcript
Transcript:Plan a Home Fire DrillHi, I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Do your children know how to get out of the house in the event of a fire? The best way to prepare your kids for a potential home fire is to have fire drills at your home. This program will offer ideas on how to make fire drills fun for everyone.
Create a Fire Drill PlanFirst, make a plan for the family to meet at a special place outside of the home. This could be in front of a swing set, at the corner of the street or even by the mailbox. Periodically ask your kids to tell them where the family meeting place is to ensure they know and understand.
Test Smoke DetectorsThen, test your smoke detector so the kids know what it sounds like. Every floor of your home should have a working smoke detector.
Fire Drill Meeting PlacesOnce the kids have heard the sound, practice going out to your special meeting place. Remember to tell them that once they are outside at this place, they should never go back into the house to get something, like a toy, a pet or even a coat. Once you are out, stay out.
Fire Drill Role-playHave your child role-play being awakened by the smoke detector. Show them how to roll out of bed and crawl to the door. Then, if the door is closed, teach them to feel the door using the BACK of their hand. If the door is hot, they should go out the window. If the door is not hot, they should go through the door, but stay low to the ground.
Fire Drill ExitsTeach your kids to identify two ways to exit every room. Make a game of this and have your child name the two options. You can play this game at anytime throughout the day, not just during a practice fire drill.
Stop, Drop, and RollDuring the fire drill, it is also a good idea to instruct your children about what they should do if their clothes catch fire. Do not run. Stop, drop and roll. Have your kids practice rolling like logs on the ground.
Reporting a FireIt is also good to teach your child how to report a fire. Explain that they should go to a neighbor's house or use a cell phone, not the phone inside the house. They will need to know their address and phone number to do this.
Practicing home fire drills throughout the year will keep your family prepared for a fire. Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at Parenting.About.com.