Olympia – As the new school year starts, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) urges parents and educators to teach children about fire safety. It is vital for kids to recognize the hazards of fire and know how to react in an emergency. Last year in Washington State, approximately 5% of fire-related deaths involved children under age 18.
The SFMO suggests teaching children the following fire safety tips:
- Teach children not to play with fire hazards such as matches, lighters, candles, or cooking equipment.
- Establish a three-foot kid-free zone in areas with fire or safety risks, such as the kitchen, near fireplaces, and around space heaters.
- Let children hear a smoke alarm and explain that they must leave the building quickly and safely when it goes off.
- Discuss when to call 9-1-1 and what information to provide in an emergency.
- Practice a fire escape plan twice a year, including at least two exit pathways.
- Teach children to go outside to the designated meeting spot and remain there during a fire.
- Explain that hiding during a fire is not safe.
- Teach children to get low and crawl to the nearest exit if there is smoke.
- Teach children to remember the phrase “Get Out and Stay Out.”
- Review what to do during a school fire drill and emphasize the importance of following their teachers’ instructions.
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3904.