When I moved into my house two years ago, a whole series of topics I had never considered were suddenly taking up space in my brain. As a tenant in an apartment, I had moved in, taken note of my working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, kept a spare battery on hand, got tenant insurance, and knew that I lived right beside my nearest fire exit.

In a house, I now think about furnace filters and how often to change them. About Christmas lights. New questions come up all the time: Do I need a sticker or a wallet card to alert Emergency Services that there are pets in the house? Where is the best place in an old two story house (with a LOT of walls and doors) to plug in a carbon monoxide detector? How important is it to change the wiring in an old lamp? Do we need a fire ladder for the second story? Could we make art out of dryer lint and cat hair?

I’m kidding about that last one. Mostly.

If you have children at home or in your home regularly, you have thought about safety in different ways over the years, too. You may have purchased babyproofing kits for your home to plug sockets, child locks for cupboards, or put hazardous materials like cleaning supplies or matches in out of reach places. Your questions might sound like:

How do I ensure my wandering child’s safety and secure my home without preventing exits in case of emergency?
How do I shop for and use space heaters or personal heating devices safely – are there certain recommendations I should follow?
When is it safe to start teaching children to cook, and how do we talk about cooking safely?
What should I include when putting together an emergency plan for my family? How do I teach my children about it?
What do I do if something in my rental unit or building is hazardous or a fire safety risk, but my concerns aren’t being taken seriously?
How do I ensure that my emergency plans are accessible for my parent, who is a senior with an assistive device?

Photograph shows a brick wall with a sign indicating a stairwell exit.

There is a lot to consider when you think about home maintenance and safety, whether you own your home or rent a house or an apartment. It’s important to understand potential fire risks and hazards, so that you can be aware and proactive when faced with a concern, some repairs, or an emergency.

On January 13, 2022, at 10:00AM, Jason Poole of the London Fire Department (Fire Prevention/Public Fire & Life Safety Educator) will be joining Childreach on Zoom to talk about fire safety at home, and to answer questions you might have about fire safety.

Some of the topics covered in Fire Safety at Home will include:

The reality of fire… How much time do I really have?
Smoke Alarms & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Evacuation procedures from a house
Evacuation procedures from an apartment building
Fire safety in the kitchen
Electrical fire safety
The dangers of candles

You can register for Fire Safety at Home on Eventbrite. We hope to see you there! If you’re unable to attend, but have a question you’d like considered for the Q&A, please submit it here. We will be publishing a follow up post with some of the information we learn.

For helpful information online, please take a look at the resources offered by the National Fire Prevention Association. They have created a number of tip sheets on the most relevant fire safety topics, including:

They also have a Sparky the Fire Dog section on their site, which includes fire safety activities, games, and information for children.

We really like these top tips about teaching children about fire safety and role modeling (from Children and Fire, NFPA 2017):

”It is natural for young children to be curious and ask questions about fire, play with fire trucks, or pretend to cook. Use these opportunities to teach them about fire safety.”
“Be a good example! Always use fire sources — matches, lighters, candles, fireplaces, and campfires — in a safe manner. Never treat them as toys, or children may imitate you.”
“Closely supervise children, making sure that they are kept away from other fire sources, including lit candles, cigarettes, bonfires, and stoves.”
“Give praise for showing respect and age-appropriate responsible behavior toward fire.”
“Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.”

What other blog and virtual discussion topics would you like to see us focus on in 2022? If you have suggestions or requests, please write to us!

Fire Safety: What is your family's home safety plan?