Safety and Security

The holidays are the time for festive family gatherings and happy memories in the making. However, it’s also the time of year when hundreds of home fires get started, simply due to carelessness. If you haven’t discussed fire safety for kids with your children or grandchildren, this is the time to make an impression! Here we have six tips for fire safety for kids, to keep you and yours safe.

1.If you have a Christmas tree, be sure to freshen the supply of water to the tree daily. Get the kids involved in performing this task. Let them know that a cut tree needs adequate amounts of water to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. If the tree becomes too dry, even the Christmas lights can generate enough heat to start a fire. Make a habit of turning the lights off before your head off to bed.

2.Candles are always a lovely part of the holiday decorations, but this fire safety for kids tip deserves a careful going over with the children. Never leave candles unattended and always set them on a metal stand of sufficient size, or, for small candles, contain them in a glass or metal votive holder.

3.Kids do like to play with lighters! Keep lighters out of reach, especially from young children. Consider using lighters which have a dial that can be turned to a position where the lighter won’t work. Nonetheless, you still want to let kids know about how dangerous lighters can be, to make that temptation a little less inviting.

4.If you plan to use a turkey fryer to cook, never use this appliance indoors. Find a spot outdoors where the fryer can be placed on bare ground and supervise the fryer during the cooking period. Never allow kids to play around the turkey fryer when in use. Besides the danger of fire, spilled grease can spell disaster in terms of skin burns!

5.When you’re doing a lot of cooking and entertaining, those electrical appliances sure do come in handy. However, just like candles, appliances like crock pots should not be left unattended. If the appliance should short out, you can have a fire in no time. In your fire safety for kids ‘class’, let them know that appliances such as crock pots, popcorn makers, blenders and toaster ovens should be unplugged when they’re done using them.

6.Perhaps the most important of our tips on fire safety for kids is this: always have a fully charged fire extinguisher on hand. Teach older kids how to use the fire extinguisher. Remember, a grease fire in the broiler can engulf your kitchen in flames within just a few minutes!

When you think about it, fire safety for kids is really common sense, but your kids need to be informed. Posting a ‘cheat sheet’ on the frig with specific instructions is also a good idea. You’ll sleep better and have a safe and happy holiday, knowing your kids are aware of the dangers of fire and know what to do in case of emergency. Happy holidays!