New Child Safety Fire Safety Week

The Best Way To Know More

Fire Safety Week

Fire Safety Week, also called Fire Prevention Week is one week of the year dedicated to educating families and children on the measures that they can take to prevent dangers that fire presents to households present.

The 2009 Fire Safety Week's theme was "Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned!" where children participated in a series of fun activities such as songs, stories, art projects and many others focused on the theme. There are also quizzes for students, as well as activities for both parents and their children such as planning and practicing fire drills.

GO To Fire Safety Checklists

Fire safety and rescue service providers give open days during the week where people can go to receive information about fire safety from the professionals themselves. This opportunity may not be available any other time of the year, so people are encouraged to attend. It is an excellent idea to include grandparents, caregivers and importantly your baby-sitter if you have someone who regularly comes into your home to provide care.

Resources for parents during Fire Safety Week are plentiful, one being the chance to talk with professionals in the fire prevention industries about measures to provide child fire safety in their homes. Parents and caregivers are also offered the opportunity to learn about the various safety equipment available for making their homes fire safe, such as childproof sockets and lighters and how to childproof other electrical equipment in their home. Parents can also get guidance on how to teach their children the best child safety practices in a way that will prepare the family on how to handle fires.

Resources for kids are also available, such as lessons for school children and books that contain information that educate them on fire safety. They are instructed on how to behave during a fire in such creative and stimulating methods as skits, plays and story reading. One important provision that Fire Safety Week makes available for children is that they get to interact with firefighters and familiarize themselves with the fire-fighter's uniforms. This helps greatly with dispelling any fears the child might have if in the middle of a fire and is rescued by a fireman in a gas mask- it can be quite frightening for any child unless they are aware of the fireman's attire. Children are also taught how to behave if a fire breaks out in their schools.

There are also materials provided during the safety week such as fire safety checklists and worksheets for parents and caregivers, coloring sheets for children and other free resources that can be kept in the home and used routinely for your family's fire safety plan. Teachers are also included in the Fire Safety Week because they interact with children at school. Lesson plans for fire prevention are incorporated into the school curriculum during the week.

Innovative approaches to fire safety are demonstrated to parents and children, giving families the chance to be proactive and creative in their means of preventing fires in their homes. It is recognized that every home has its own unique way of doing things and there is room for originality in the child fire safety measures that they can take. This applies especially when planning fire escape methods, where professional fire rescue officers highlight the different types of house plans and the best ways to take in case of a fire.

The key to providing fire safety that is emphasized in the annual Fire Safety Week is recognizing the potential dangers and sources of fires for children and families. Some of the causes of fires in the home are reviewed, and parents are given a number of sobering statistics about cases of injuries and deaths from fires in the home. Common causes of fires include cooking related fires, smoking indoors, arson by adults or children, heating and electrical malfunctions, and the most disconcerting realization is that all these are preventable. Parents are therefore taught how to prevent them during Fire Safety Week.