Teaching Students the Basics of Home Fire Safety

In just 30 seconds, a small flame can become a raging fire. It only takes 5-10 minutes for the flames to consume an entire house. By teaching your students simple preventative measures, you can increase their chance of avoiding, or escaping a fire. If students feel responsibility for the safety of their own homes and families and understand the dangers of fire, they are less likely to become a juvenile firesetter.

Many of these basic concepts that relate to a student’s residential home are also applicable in a school environment. Use school fire safety as a daily reminder of how these principles apply to their home safety as well.

Basic Home Fire Safety Information:

House numbers:
It is vital that house numbers are visible for emergency response vehicles to locate. When fighting a fire, even seconds are critical to saving lives and property. Make sure that house numbers are easily seen from 150 feet. If the house is at the end of a long lane, or driveway, post house numbers near the street. Numbers should be easy to see in both the day and night, and should not use cursive style writing for the house numbers.

Fire Extinguishers:
Make certain that the home is equipped with at least one fully charged and operational fire extinguisher. Locate it in a central area of the house, but away from children and fire hazards. The kitchen and garage are perfect locations for additional extinguishers due to higher fire risks in these areas.

Home Fire Escape Plan:
Prevention and protection are the best ways to keep a family safe in a fire. Organizing a home fire escape plan is vital to prepare for a safe exit in case of a fire. Mark door, window, doorway, and stairs, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and escape ladder locations on a map. Select an outside location away from the house, which can be used as a safe meeting spot for the family.

Smoke Alarms: Working smoke alarms can alert a family to a fire even before they can feel heat or see flames. This will provide the extra minutes that can make a difference between escaping the fire and being caught inside. Check the batteries in smoke alarms frequently, and pick two easy-to-remember dates (daylight savings time, holidays etc.) to replace the batteries. Never borrow a battery with the intent to replace it…forgetting to replace the batteries can put everyone at risk. Test smoke alarms frequently, vacuum them to remove dust, and never paint a smoke alarm.

Residential Sprinklers:
Installing sprinkler systems in a home is additional protection against the threat of fire. They do not replace smoke detectors, as they are activated by heat and not smoke. However, they are easily installed in newer homes, and one sprinkler head can extinguish a small fire, resulting in 90% lower financial losses than if a sprinkler was not used.

As a teacher, you can practice fire safety techniques in the school that mirror fire safety measures in the home. Involving students in creating the school fire escape plan, practicing fire drills, and checking the status of smoke alarms, extinguishers and sprinkler systems will provide them with a clear understanding of the preventative measures that are needed in the home.

Provide your students with this Home Fire Safety Checklist to use in fireproofing their own homes.

Home Checklist