Angela Rayne the Executive Director of the Houston Fire Museum told me that children who took part in the Fire Museum’s safety program were 80% less likely to die in a home fire than children who had not had any fire safety education.   Angela explained that small children in The Fire Museum’s Program are taught that when a smoke detector goes off in the house to make an orderly exit. They should go to a predetermined spot outside the home, such as a light pole.  

Children are shown pictures of Firemen in their uniforms, so they will not be afraid when they see them come into the house.  The family is encouraged to have an escape plan, so that children know how to exit the home from any room they may be in.  And most of all the family and children are encouraged to practice the plan, so it will become second nature to them.

    FEMA States in the following article that it is an unfortunate fact that young children face an elevated risk of injury or death in a fire. Very young children are typically dependent to some degree on others for their safety. Those older are more mobile, but may not have sufficient abilities to protect themselves. Although many factors influence the risk children face, more often than not age—and more specifically immaturity—dominates. 

·         The relative risk of children under age 15 dying in a fire is about the same as the general population. However, when dividing the young into subgroups, over 50% of all child fire deaths occur to those under age 5. These children are usually unable to escape from a fire independently.

·         The number of fire injuries are also highest in the under age 5 bracket, decline in the middle years, but rise again in the 10–14 age group. This is a different pattern than deaths, which decrease as children age.

·         Boys are at higher risk of death from fire than girls. African American and American Indian children are at an increased risk of death from fire. 

·         Children in the poorest homes face the greatest risk of death. 

·         Children playing is the leading cause of child fire injuries; suspicious (arson) activity is the leading cause of child deaths. One?third of arson fires are attributed to children under age 15.

·         Fire deaths and injuries have declined over the past decade—both to children and the general population. A major reason for the decline is the greater prevalence of smoke alarms. The mandatory 1994 safety standard that required disposable lighters to be child resistant has prevented thousands of fires in which children would have been at risk.

CONCLUSION

Children are some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents and merit special attention to reduce their risk of injury or death from fire. Gains have been made in reducing fire deaths and injuries among children. CPSC continues to look at products that pose additional fire risks for children, and education programs are conducted to teach young children about the dangers associated with fire and also to teach their caregivers. Yet large numbers of young children continue to die from fire?related injuries each year.

Appropriate oversight of small children is one of the most effective means of preventing injury or death from all sources. A greater understanding of why children are at an elevated risk of death and injury from fire is still required. So, too, are strategies to lower that risk. A number of resources are available to help address the fire problem for children. Because children account for 15% to 20% of fire deaths and 14% of fire injuries, the USFA has been working toward the goal of reducing fire deaths and injuries to children. A number of resources to help address the fire problem for children and adults are available. USFA’s fire safety campaign for babies and toddlers at http://www.usfaparents.gov/ provides parents with home strategies ranging from the control of matches and lighters to home escape planning to protect young children from fire.

To request additional information visit

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/feedback