This second week of October marks Fire Prevention Week. In the past we’ve spent one day of this week going to our kids’ school with Greg in his fire gear to teach kids fire safety. These visits also let the children see a firefighter geared out as sometimes in an emergency situation children are scared of firefighters with all of their gear on and talking through a mask like Darth Vader.
In 2010, nearly 128,500 children ages 19 and under were injured due to a fire or burn, while more than 60,400 children ages 4 and under were treated in emergency rooms across the country. Fire is serious business.
This year the National Fire Protection Association’s theme is Preventing Kitchen Fires, making it the perfect time to teach your little chefs how to be safe in the kitchen.
A few tips to get you started:
- Don’t carry or hold a child while cooking on the stove. Instead, move a high chair in the kitchen within reach or sight before you start. Then talk to your children so they know what’s going on.
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
- Use the back burner of your stove and turn pot handles away from the edge.
- Keep hot foods away from the edge of your counters.
- Place matches, gasoline and lighters in a safe place, out of children’s reach. Avoid novelty lighters or lighters that look like toys.
To learn more, visit Safe Kids Worldwide. Your local fire department also is likely to have to special activities going on this week.
Get cookin’. Safely.
