London Fire Brigade promotes fire safety for children
London Fire Brigade launches new child fire safety campaign
Firefighters are urging Londoners to keep their community safe and sound by teaching children about the importance of fire safety.
London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Community Safety Andy Barrett said, “Parents and carers can become fire safety champions by protecting their children from fire just by talking to them about what to do if a fire starts and how to prevent fires from starting in the first place.”
“Fitting a smoke alarm and regularly testing it is the single most important thing parents can do to protect their families, as they provide an early warning of a fire that can give crucial time to escape."
"You can go to the London Fire Brigade website (www.london-fire.gov.uk) to get information on receiving a free home fire safety visit.”
Top tips to ensure children are clued up about fire safety:
For very young children (aged under 5):
- Make sure children understand that they need to alert an adult if they discover a fire and not to hide.
For older children (age 6 and above):
- Encourage children to help test their smoke alarms on a weekly basis
- Plan and practice an escape route – make sure children know the easiest way to get out of your home and practise it regularly to keep it fresh in their minds.
- Show children where the keys are kept – it’s important that the keys to doors and windows are always kept in the same place, a place everyone in the home knows.
- Explain what to do if they can’t get out – show them the best room to take refuge in – for example, a room with a window and a flat roof outside it.
- Discuss how to call 999 – make sure children know the number off by heart as well as their address.
In a fire, both adults and children should follow these four simple steps:
- Alert everyone – make sure that everyone in the house knows about the fire. If there’s a lot of smoke crawl along the floor where the air will be clearer.
- Get everyone out – don’t delay for valuables, don’t investigate the fire.
- Call 999 and ask for the fire brigade – use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box.
- Stay out! – if someone needs to be rescued, wait safely outside for firefighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Don’t go back in!
