Fire Safety 101

Yesterday, I chaperoned my 4-year old daughter's preschool field trip to the local fire station. The kids were well-behaved and just adorable, and the firefighters showing the movie and giving the tour were just great with the kids.

Simple things that we take for granted, such as leaving the house if there's a fire, or performing the Stop, Drop and Roll system if your clothes are on fire, are excellent points to review with your kids. Another helpful point was the importance of having an emergency fire escape plan, and a specific place for everyone to meet outside if the need ever arises.

When one of the firefighters put on all his gear, about 3 of the children were very frightened. He, and the teachers, were able to calm them down. This is a good reminder that it's important to allow your kids the opportunity to see firemen in their gear, and to teach them not to be afraid of them. In case of a fire, you'd want them to find comfort when they see a firefighter, and not to run and hide.

I did a quick search on the web and thought the following link, offered by New York State, was a good one to review with your children:

http://www.dos.state.ny.us/kidsroom/firesafe/lessons.html

Thinking 'this could never happen to me' can be deadly. Hopefully, you'll never have to experience a fire that affects you in your lifetime, but being prepared will help ensure that everyone knows what to do in the case of a fire and stays safe.