Fire safety for children: what should we do first if there is a fire?

Nice to meet you, I'm Didi from Circus Company.

Ask what to do in a fire and most of us can answer. But one mistake can have serious consequences in a fire. Children and adults alike need to practice before an emergency, so the steps come to mind when they matter.

Four fire safety rules to practice first

1. Warn and call: shout "Fire!", get to a safe place, then call the emergency number (911 in the US).

2. Leave belongings: getting out matters more than anything you own.

3. Stay low: cover your nose and mouth with a towel and get out low beneath the smoke.

4. Close the door: close it after you leave to slow the fire's spread.

These steps sound simple, but an emergency can be confusing. That's why I think practicing matters.

Can you pour water on an electrical fire?

Saerom is alone in a room when an outlet catches fire. Saerom reaches for water, but Popo stops Saerom. I might have made the same mistake. Never pour water on an electrical fire. It is dangerous. Instead, Saerom practices calling the emergency number (911 in the US) and clearly giving the home address. In a real fire, shout "Fire!", get to safety, and then call.

Should you take a favorite toy during a fire?

As Saerom looks for a doll and a phone, smoke fills the room. Popo says to leave belongings behind; they can be replaced. Saerom starts to walk out standing up and coughs. Hot smoke rises. Cover your nose and mouth with a towel and stay low as you get out through smoke.

Should the door stay open after an escape?

Saerom wants to leave it wide open for firefighters. Popo has a different answer: close it after leaving. Here's my hint: fire needs air.

Three things to try away from the screen

1. Find an extinguisher: look for the red extinguisher at home and in the classroom hallway. Check the gauge needle's color.

2. Say the address: pretend to call the emergency number (911 in the US) and say your home or school address aloud. Do not actually call.

3. Get low: cover your nose and mouth with a towel, crawl to the door and close it after leaving.

This activity does not replace your institution's fire drills. Adults should check the real escape routes and meeting place first. Never let a child handle real fire or a fire extinguisher.

The scenes above are from "Mission: fire escape", a magic paper activity in WAGZAK RUN, an augmented reality learning-through-play app made by Circus Company. It is free and needs no sign-up. Before a fire drill, try a safe virtual activity where mistakes are allowed. All you need is magic paper and a phone.

https://run.wagzak.io/en/markers/M032/?source=parentcircle

Will you look for the extinguisher at home tonight?

Yours, Didi Fire safety activity with Didi and Mission: fire escape