Teaching children to be safe with fire
The best way to teach children is by example. Let your children see you being sensible and careful about cooking, candles, smoking and other potential fire risks. You should also:
- Encourage your children to tell you if they find matches or lighters;
- Encourage older children to be responsible by letting them take part in safe, fire-related activities
(for example, lighting a bonfire or candle) under the supervision of an adult; and explain to older
teenagers the risks of causing a fire from smoking.
- Even if they don’t smoke, they’ll probably go to parties where others] do. Candles are also popular with
many teenagers, so explain how to use them safely.
Make your home safe for children
A child can start a fire in moments, but only if he or she has the means to do so.
- Don’t leave children on their own in a room where there’s a fire risk.
- Keep matches and lighters where children cannot see or reach them.
- Place candles and tea lights where children cannot reach them.
- Put a childproof fireguard in front of an open fire or heater.
- Don’t let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater.
- Put child locks on cupboards containing anything that could be used to start a fire (for example,
matches, candles, flammable liquids and so on).
- Keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can’t be knocked over when they are being
used or stored.
- Keep your escape route clear of toys and other obstructions.
- Never leave children alone in the kitchen when you’re cooking,
and never let them play near the oven and hob.
- Put plug guards into sockets so children can’t stick anything into
the holes.
Teach your children what to do if there’s a fire
- If you see smoke or flames, raise the alarm and tell a grown-up straight away.
- Get out of the building as soon as possible. Go to a neighbour’s house and tell them to call 999 and
ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.
- If there’s smoke, crawl along the floor as the air is cleanest there.
- Never hide in a cupboard or under a bed.
- You need to raise the alarm and get out.
| If your escape route is blocked, go into a room with a window. Put blankets and towels at the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in. If there’s a phone in the room call 999. If there isn’t a phone, open the window and shout Fire. |
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Don’t go back into the building, not even for your toys or pets. Firefighters can search the house
much more quickly and safely than you can.
Fire safety rules for children
- You can never play safely with fire – it can get out of control really fast.
- Never play with matches or lighters.
- If you see matches or lighters lying around, tell a grown-up.
- Never play with a lit candle.
- Don’t play close to a fire or a heater, or leave your toys near a fire or heater.
- Don’t pull on electric cables or fiddle with electric appliances or sockets.
- Never switch the oven or hob on.
- Don’t touch any saucepans on the hob.
- Don’t put anything on top of heaters, lamps or other lights.
- If you see a fire, tell a grown-up immediately and don’t try to put it out
Fire fascinates children
Children can be curious about fire and flames. Some can become obsessed to the point of putting lives in danger – theirs and other people’s. Arson (deliberately starting fires) is a serious problem. If you’re
responsible for a child, you’re legally responsible for any illegal actions carried out by that child. So if you think your child may be lighting fires deliberately, you must do something about it.
- Call your local Fire and Rescue Service and ask for help and advice on how to deal with the problem.
- Some Fire and Rescue Services offer a confidential service where a specially trained fire adviser visits
you and your child at home to give advice and education. These services, which are
safe, friendly and non-confrontational, use discussions, videos, projects and so on to get across the dangers of playing with fire.