Fire Safety

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Springfield is your fire restoration expert.

Most schools teach children about fire safety but have you had the opportunity to discuss the ins and outs with your child about your own fire safety plan in your home? It’s one of the most important discussions we should have and often do not have with our children. It’s actually a conversation that needs to be discussed multiple times, I would recommend once a month. It can be overwhelming and quite frankly a little scary for our children. If you have babies, it's important for you and your partner to have a plan for a child who is immobile. I have put together a few starter points to have with your family to help keep them safe in case of an emergency. Our goal here at SERVPRO is to help you in times of need. We want your family to be whole and happy. 

1. Create an escape route by mapping out your home on paper. It’s important to know and understand all the possible points of escape.
2. Have a plan to meet in a specific spot outside the home if your child needs to escape separately from you. If a neighbor or friend's home is close by, I recommend using their property. Again, be sure to use a meeting spot that is close without having to cross a street. Your child may be disoriented or confused from all the smoke and not able to cross a street safely.
3. Outline the Stop Drop and Roll procedure. This is taught in schools but it’s important to reiterate this information in relation to your home.
4. Review general Do’s and Don’ts of fire safety. This would include information like having them touch a doorknob to see if it is warm or hot, if so, they should seek escape through a window or know how to call 911. Be sure they are aware of their address and how to explain where their room is to someone from the outside, ie, “my bedroom window is on the second floor on the west side of the house”. If your child is too small to be able to escape on their own, it’s a good idea to teach them to go to a certain corner of their room, tell them not to hide, and stay close to the floor. This will help if you or a firefighter find them easily to rescue them. 
5. Discuss the importance of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Have your children help you test them. It’s important for your child to hear them and know what to expect. If your child has never heard the alarm, it’s difficult for them to comprehend what is happening if an emergency were to arise at night or when you may not be by their side.
6. Reassure your child. Family support and emotional support are incredibly important. Having a regular meeting (once per month) will help your child gain confidence in what he or she may need to do to protect themselves. It is a scary situation but being well informed will help you all find safety. 

At the end of the day, SERVPRO of Springfield is Here to Help in any disaster. We are your fire and water restoration company. We will bring our decades of experience to you and your home and make it "Like it never even happened." 

 As always, if disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Springfield, serving: Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Cass, and Montgomery counties are always here for you. We can be reached 24/7 at 217-528-7775.