Fire and Burn Prevention for Safety Professionals
Did you know…
- Fires and burns are the #5 cause of injury-related death to children in the United States?
- Over 300 children are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries each day and 2 children die as a result of being burned?
- 47% of children who died from fires or burns were aged 4 and under?
Educate children and families about what they can do to protect themselves and others from fire and burns:
- Remind parents and caregivers to:
- Cook with caution: never leave flammable items near the stove, turn all handles away from children's reach, and never leave a child in the kitchen alone while they're cooking.
- Keep matches, candles, gasoline, lighters and all other flammable materials locked away and out of children's reach.
- Set their water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Consider installing water faucets and shower heads containing anti-scald technology.
- Install and maintain smoke alarms in their homes and be sure to test them once a month.
- Never smoke in bed and extinguish cigarettes before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Never leaving a burning candle unattended and keep candles away from children, pets, or combustible materials
- Remind children to:
- "Stop, Drop and Roll" if their clothes are on fire. Practice it with them.
- Have an escape plan and practice it with their family. Make sure everyone knows at least two ways out of every room and choose a central meeting place outside.
- "Get Low and Go." Explain to them that smoke rises up, so they need to stay down low where the air is clean. Practice crawling low under smoke.
- Never stop or go back inside a burning building for a toy or pet. Point to things in the room and ask if they should go back for them. The children should yell "No!"
For more information and educational resources, visit the following websites: