Your Kids and the Realities of Fire Safety | SERVPRO of Hattiesburg

6/16/2023 (Permalink)

Make sure you have a plan to keep your family safe if a house fire occurs. Then, call SERVPRO of Hattiesburg to help get you back to normal.

Having children is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, but it certainly is hard work! In addition to taking care of them every day, you have the important responsibility of teaching them about the world around them. Sometimes the realities of the world can be scary, especially for young children.

In order to teach your children about certain scary things, like house fires, you have to approach it carefully to avoid introducing anxieties while also preparing them for the possibilities.

Our SERVPRO of Hattiesburg team explains some easy ways to incorporate fire safety in a fun and engaging way for your child below, so read on to learn more.

Explain Where Fire Starts

We all know that fires can start in many different areas of your home, but the more common spaces are the ones where fire is already present or used often. Walk around your house with your child and discuss the spaces like your stove, bonfire pit, grill and the candles throughout the house. Talk about what fire is, how it starts and how it spreads from one surface to another.

This is also a good opportunity to introduce match and lighter safety. These tools are helpful in the right hands, but can lead to disastrous consequences in the hands of a child. Teach them that these items are never toys and should always be brought to a parent if found around the house.

Introduce the Concept of Firefighters

Many kids have the dream of growing up to become a firefighter or police officer, but many of those same kids can easily become shy around authority. This is especially true if the men and women are in uniform! Expose your children to pictures, books and videos of these friendly heroes. If you can, take them to local meet-and-greet opportunities so they can meet these people in person.

Teach them that in the event of a true fire emergency, these people will show up to your home and are only looking to help. In order to help your children, they need to not be afraid to yell for help! Practice this by having your kids yell their names as loudly as they can while in their rooms or running through the house, and end with an army crawling competition through the halls.

Creating Your Family’s Game Plan

Every family needs to have a detailed emergency exit plan that highlights how to get out of your home and where your fire extinguishers are located.

Let your kids lead the charge for this! Make it a game where your kids have to find all of the exits for each room as fast as they can and take the time to write down their findings. Once finished, make a map of your home and hang it up so it is easy to see.

Don’t let your children overlook the windows in your home. While it may seem irresponsible or scary to teach your kids how to open your windows, it could save their lives in an emergency. Explain how they work, and take the time to ensure they understand that the windows are only for emergencies and are never to be used for play.

Once you have everything finalized, put it into action! Practice your exit plan at least twice a year and end by gathering at your pre-determined meeting location.

Fires can cause widespread damage. Call us for a thorough and efficient restoration.