FIGHT FIRE WITH FACTS
A Quick Response Unit Sheet On Children & Fire
Recently your community was struck by fire. Someone died. As you continue to report about the devastating effects of this fire, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to remind your audience that many fire deaths and injuries are preventable.

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and more than 25,000 are injured. Many of them might be alive today if they had only had the information they needed to avoid a disaster. The following life-saving tips could make a big difference to your audience. By incorporating them in your story now, while the moment is still fresh, you could help save a life.

Did you know?
Eighty percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.
Each year about 300 people are killed and $280 million in property is destroyed in fires attributed to children playing with fire.
Deaths due to children playing with fire are particularly avoidable.
Having a working smoke alarm more than doubles one's chances of surviving a fire.
Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically. Please share them with your readers because knowledge is the best fire protection.

Children & Fire Life-Saving Tips
Keep matches, lighters and other ignitables in a secured drawer or cabinet out of the reach of children.
Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability standards. Avoid dressing children for sleep in loose-fitting 100 percent cotton garments, such as oversized T-shirts.
Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out.
Teach children a signal to alert the rest of the family to get out if they hear a smoke alarm.
Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside.
Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.
Help your child test every smoke alarm each month and replace its batteries at least once a year.
Replace mattresses made prior to the 1973 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard.
Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.
For more information on how you can help prevent fire deaths please contact your local fire department on a nonemergency number or the United States Fire Administration at (800) 238-3358 or www.usfa.fema.gov