TOPEKA, Kan. – Home fires have proven to be one of the largest disaster threats facing American families today, resulting more than 8 in 10 fire-related deaths. To raise awareness about this issue and encourage families to be prepared, Safe Kids Kansas and the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be joining other experts for Home Fire Drill Day on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in coordination with National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15).
“We practice fire drills at work and children practice at school, but many families don’t practice fire drills at home,” said Cherie Sage, of Safe Kids Kansas. “Creating a home fire escape plan with your family and practicing it is a smart thing for every family to do. In the event of an emergency, a child could feel overwhelmed or scared. Practicing on Home Fire Drill Day can help teach your children what to do in case of a home fire.”
Some simple tips and tools for families to use on Home Fire Drill Day include:
- Take the pledge and design your home escape plan at www.firemarshal.ks.gov/homefiredrillday.
- Pick a family safety spot outside that’s near your home and a safe distance away.
- Make sure there’s a smoke alarm on every level of your home and one in each bedroom.
- Test your smoke alarms with your kids so they know what the beep sounds like.
- For children younger than 6 years old, assign an adult to help them.
- Use a timer to ensure everyone can get out to the safety spot in two minutes or less. This represents how much time a family has to safely exit the house in the event of a real home fire.
- Prepare for the practice by drawing out a plan based on the home’s exits. Make sure to identify two exits out of each room.
For more information on Home Fire Drill Day, visit www.homefiredrillday.com.
Information thanks to Safe Kids Kansas.
