| Children and Fire- Fire in the Home |
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Children have a natural curiosity about fire children who start fires have a history of fire
setting. Many fire departments offer counseling programs for juveniles who set fires. If your
child is setting fires, you should do high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Even though they have a natural curiosity about fire, children may become frightened and
confused in a fire and hide rather than escape to safety; especially if they started the fire.
Children are often found hiding in closets or under beds where they feel safe. Therefore, it
is crucial for your child's safety that you hold fire drills in the home at least twice a year to
let them practice the right things to do in a fire emergency.
Clothing fires are a significant cause of fire injuries to children (and to adults too). They set
their clothes on fire by getting too close to heat sources such as open fires or stoves, or
when playing with matches or lighters. Here too, the best defense is a respect for fire and
training in what to do if their clothes do catch fire. Their natural reaction is to run ' which
will make the situation worse. STOP, DROP, and ROLL is taught as the correct action and
has saved many lives in clothing fires. The moment clothes start to burn, stop where you
are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll repeatedly to smother
the flames.
Of course, young children should never be left alone in the home. Even if they don't play
with fire, unattended children can accidentally start a fire by attempting to cook something
or by using a heater or electrical appliance in the wrong way. All too often, tragic fires
occur when young children are left unattended, for even short periods.
Children's Sleepwear
In the 1970's, the hazards of accidental ignition of sleepwear on young children were
addressed through federal legislation. The Flammable Fabrics Act required that children's
sleepwear (sizes 0-6X) be flame retardant. In a short time, this had a dramatic impact on
deaths and injuries reducing them by 95%.
Recently, an increase in injuries has been reported among children sleeping in garments
classified as "daywear" such as tee shirts and jerseys. These garments look just like
sleepwear but are not fire retardant. The only way to tell the difference is by careful
examination of the garment label. Therefore, parents should be careful to buy only fire
retardant sleepwear for their children in order to enjoy the fire safety benefits of these
garments.
Fire and Older Adults
The risk of death from fire for Americans age 65 and over is two times greater than the risk
for adults under 65, and hospital stays of more than 40 days are common for older burn
victims. Thus, older people need to be especially careful with fire. People can become
victims of fire by falling asleep smoking, either in bed or in a favorite chair especially after
consuming alcohol or taking medication. Ashtrays emptied before smoldering materials are
completely out also start a number of fires in homes of smokers. Cooking is a major cause
of fire injuries among older persons when loose fitting clothing is ignited as the wearer
reaches over a hot burner, or slips and falls onto the stove.
setting. Many fire departments offer counseling programs for juveniles who set fires. If your
child is setting fires, you should do high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Even though they have a natural curiosity about fire, children may become frightened and
confused in a fire and hide rather than escape to safety; especially if they started the fire.
Children are often found hiding in closets or under beds where they feel safe. Therefore, it
is crucial for your child's safety that you hold fire drills in the home at least twice a year to
let them practice the right things to do in a fire emergency.
Clothing fires are a significant cause of fire injuries to children (and to adults too). They set
their clothes on fire by getting too close to heat sources such as open fires or stoves, or
when playing with matches or lighters. Here too, the best defense is a respect for fire and
training in what to do if their clothes do catch fire. Their natural reaction is to run ' which
will make the situation worse. STOP, DROP, and ROLL is taught as the correct action and
has saved many lives in clothing fires. The moment clothes start to burn, stop where you
are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll repeatedly to smother
the flames.
Of course, young children should never be left alone in the home. Even if they don't play
with fire, unattended children can accidentally start a fire by attempting to cook something
or by using a heater or electrical appliance in the wrong way. All too often, tragic fires
occur when young children are left unattended, for even short periods.
Children's Sleepwear
In the 1970's, the hazards of accidental ignition of sleepwear on young children were
addressed through federal legislation. The Flammable Fabrics Act required that children's
sleepwear (sizes 0-6X) be flame retardant. In a short time, this had a dramatic impact on
deaths and injuries reducing them by 95%.
Recently, an increase in injuries has been reported among children sleeping in garments
classified as "daywear" such as tee shirts and jerseys. These garments look just like
sleepwear but are not fire retardant. The only way to tell the difference is by careful
examination of the garment label. Therefore, parents should be careful to buy only fire
retardant sleepwear for their children in order to enjoy the fire safety benefits of these
garments.
Fire and Older Adults
The risk of death from fire for Americans age 65 and over is two times greater than the risk
for adults under 65, and hospital stays of more than 40 days are common for older burn
victims. Thus, older people need to be especially careful with fire. People can become
victims of fire by falling asleep smoking, either in bed or in a favorite chair especially after
consuming alcohol or taking medication. Ashtrays emptied before smoldering materials are
completely out also start a number of fires in homes of smokers. Cooking is a major cause
of fire injuries among older persons when loose fitting clothing is ignited as the wearer
reaches over a hot burner, or slips and falls onto the stove.
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Note: All fire safety information obtained from the U.S. Fire Administration web site
| Copyright 1996 - 2011by TurboSystemsCo |