Fireman Safety Tips for Kids

• Talk to children about a firefighter's job. Mimi Haddon/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Talking to children about fire safety makes them aware of fire dangers of as well as how to prevent fires and what to do if they are involved in a fire situation. Teaching children fire safety is one way to help keep them safe in an emergency. Firemen and fire prevention organizations offer many tips for children regarding fire safety.

Be Safe

• Firefighters encourage children to be fire safe by choosing not to play with items that could start a fire. Talk to children about items that are often used to start a fire and why they do not make good toys. According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, some items that children may want to play with that start fires that they should rather avoid include candles, firecrackers, matches and lighters. In addition, children should not start small fires by lighting paper or other small objects on fire, as the fire could easily get out of control.

Exit Drills

• Practicing how to exit the home helps children learn what to do if their house is ever on fire. Firefighters and the U.S. Fire Administration suggest that children work with their families to come up with two escape routes from their house and choose an outdoor meeting spot to head to after they escape. Kids should be reminded to feel doors before opening them to determine if they are hot and unsafe; to crawl and stay low when exiting the house; and not to go back inside the house if there is a fire.

Friendly Firefighters

• Firefighters often look scary when they come to a house in their special equipment. They may be hard to understand and have a large breathing machine. Talk to children about how firefighters are friendly and trying to help them stay safe during a fire. It is important that children do not hide from firefighters, even if they do look scary. Contact a local fire department to see if they will arrange a classroom visit or a station tour for children, allowing them to see what a fully dressed firefighter looks like.

Smoke Alarms

• Not all children are aware of what a smoke alarm is or what it does. Let kids hear what a smoke alarm sounds like and talk to them about what they should do when they hear it. Talk to children about where smoke alarms should be located, how they can be cleaned and when the batteries should be changed.

Stop, Drop and Roll

• "Stop, drop and roll" keeps people safe if their clothing is on fire. Talk to children about the procedure of stopping, dropping to the floor and then rolling back and forth on the ground until the fire is out. Remind kids they should use their hands to cover their face while they are rolling on the ground. Give kids a chance to practice the stop, drop and roll procedure to feel comfortable with the routine.