Are your kids safe?

My child is curious about fire. Should I be concerned? What can I do?

Yes, you should be concerned—and you can do a lot. Children do not understand the dangers of fire. In fact, children playing with matches and lighters start many of the home fires that kill children.

• Calmly but firmly explain to your child that matches and lighters are tools for adults to use carefully. Teach young children to tell an adult if they see matches or lighters.
• Always store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, preferably in a locked cabinet.
• Purchase only child-resistant lighters. Remember: no lighter is child proof!
• Never use lighters or matches as a source of amusement. Children may imitate what you do.
• Always supervise young children closely.
• Prevent fires by practicing and teaching fire safe behaviors in your home. Keep children 3 feet away from the stove when cooking, don’t overload outlets, have your heating systems checked annually and use deep ashtrays and soak the ashes in water, if you smoke.

How effective are smoke alarms? Should I put one in my baby's room?

When children die in home fires, it is most often in homes where there are no working smoke alarms. When fire breaks out, you have only seconds to escape its heat, black smoke and deadly gases. Working smoke alarms help you get out in time. Smoke alarms save lives.

• Put working smoke alarms on each floor of your home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms where the doors are often closed.
• If you keep the door to your infant’s room closed, keep a working smoke alarm inside the room and use a baby monitor so that you can hear the alarm sound.
• As soon as you know children are ready, familiarize them with the sound of your smoke alarms. Teach them that if one goes off, they must crawl on the floor under the smoke, leave the home, and meet at a designated place outside.
• Smoke alarms must be maintained. Test the batteries in your smoke alarms monthly. Replace the batteries at least once a year.