Safe House Mouse Top 20 Tips for Kids and Parents

Read each fire safety tip with your parent.

1. Never play with fire. Secure matches and lighters out of reach of children. Never underestimate children’s curiosity about fire or their ability to strike matches or start a lighter. Kids – tell an adult if matches or lighters are within your reach.

2. If fire strikes, get out and stay out. Wherever you are, follow directions or plans and go to the nearest exit.

3. Install smoke detectors in your home. Be sure to test them once a month and replace batteries in the fall and the spring.

4. Have a fire extinguisher handy in your kitchen, sleeping area, garage, car and boat.

5. Make a fire escape plan. Draw a basic diagram of your home. Consider various fire scenarios and develop actions for a safe escape. Make special plans for babies and toddlers who can’t escape on their own.

6. Plan two exits from each room in your home. The first exit is usually a door, and second is usually a window. Map out escape routes from all room exits to the outside.

7. Establish a meeting place outside where everyone in the family will meet.

8. Know the fire emergency phone number is 911.

9. Practice, practice, practice your fire escape plan with all members of your family twice a year. Pretend some exits are blocked and find your meeting place.

10. Keep exits clear of debris, toys and furniture.

11. Keep your child’s bedroom door closed. It will slow down smoke and fire and give more time for rescue.

12. Teach toddlers not to hide from firefighters and to understand that firefighters will help.

13. If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP, & ROLL!
Adults and children should STOP, don't run. DROP to the ground. Cover your eyes and face with your hands. ROLL, ROLL, ROLL your body. Practice this drill.

14. Crawl low under smoke to reduce smoke inhalation and go to the nearest exit. Practice crawling.

15. Use electricity safely. Replace worn cords and don’t overload cords or outlets. Have your heating system checked regularly.

16. Take care with lighted candles. Never leave a candle unattended or near anything that could catch fire.

17. Be careful cooking. Things can easily catch fire in the kitchen. Keep the handles of pots turned inward and keep paper and cloth away from the stove.

18. Give portable heaters plenty of space and keep drapes, sheets and blankets away. Unplug the heater when you leave the room.

19. Leave fireworks to the professionals. Sparklers are okay with an adult.

20. Clean up your yard. Keep your roof and yard free of leaves and debris. Trim trees and bushes and keep them away from the house.

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Safe House Mouse Fire Escape Plan

Hold a family meeting to make a fire escape plan.

Use the handy grid to draw your house floor plan and decide on your best escape routes. Download the grid sheet here.

Practice your escape plan with your family – your life may depend on it!

In case of a fire, family members should get out and stay out.

A plan will help you escape quickly and safely from your home.

Make sure all family members know what to do in the event of a fire.

Draw a floor plan with at least two ways of escaping from each room.

Make a drawing for each floor on the grid. Dimensions do not need to be exact. Make sure the plan shows stairs, hallways and windows that can be used as fire escape routes. Choose a safe place to meet outside the house. A neighbor’s house, a big tree or a mailbox will do. Include the meeting place on the plan you draw.

Test windows and doors to see if they open easily. Are they big enough to use as exits?

Meet outside at your special place when you practice your escape.

It is a good idea to keep a bell or whistle and a flashlight in each bedroom.

Always sleep with your bedroom door closed to keep smoke out and give you extra time to escape.

In a fire, time is critical. Don't waste time getting dressed, don't search for pets or valuables. Just get out!

Roll out of bed. Stay low. Smoke and heat rise so crawl under the smoke. Breathing smoke can hurt you.

Practice evacuating the building with almost-closed eyes. In a real fire, smoke will make it difficult to see.

Practice staying low to the ground and under the smoke when escaping.

Feel all doors before opening them. If a door is hot, get out another way.

If clothes catch fire, stop, drop to the ground, and roll to put out the fire. Remember, STOP, DROP & ROLL.

Call for help once you are out of the house.

911 is the emergency phone number. Speak clearly and know your home address and phone number.

Give first aid when needed. Injured people or pets should be sent to the hospital.

Stay out of the damaged house.