Welcome To Spanky's Firehouse Fun Page - Kid's Page




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�� Since a little prevention goes a long way, I will try to cover the basics in a short period. It seems that every school kid knows "stop, drop and roll" but it also is very apparent to me that the adults have missed this one. I say this because I responded to a call a few years ago (like many others) where a grandparent accidentally caught their clothes on fire while cooking or grilling food. One case ended happily when an 8 year old knocked the grandparent to the ground and amidst all the panic, he got the fire out by making his grandfather roll! There are many young heros out there. I know it is hard to remember in an emergency to stop what you are doing, hit the ground and roll. This effectively smothers the fire because it cuts off much needed oxygen to the flames and while it may not prevent a burn, it WILL put the fire out. While cooking food (or burning trash), try to roll up sleeves so they do not ignite. Keep combustible materials away from the flames. This all seems like common sense but I see so many injuries and fires due to this.

From past experience, I have learned that kids really like fire prevention and love to plan at-home fire drills. By making drills fun, the kids learn quickly how to safely get out of the house. My own kids will have me set off the smoke detector and we all put blind folds on (to simulate dark, smoky conditions found in fires). Then we leave our rooms and crawl outside. We do this twice, each time taking different routes. You need two escapes like a door and a window. Staying low is the only way to get out since smoke and heat rise. You'll find breathable air low!! After we get outside, we have a designated spot to meet at. Also remember to teach the children that in a real fire if they have to throw a chair or anything else through a window to get out, do it. Teach them to put something over the window frame to prevent cuts. These simple things could be the difference between getting out alive or dying!







Smoke Detectors

I have seen too many houses burn to the ground, too many bodies only to find a smoke detector properly installed but minus batteries. Or, just as bad, dead batteries. If you do not have a smoke detector and cannot afford one, contact your local fire department. If they cannot supply one to you, they may know an agency who will. There is no shame in getting a detector this way; the shame is the loss from NO detector.

Install smoke detectors on every level, near bedrooms, in the garage and away from air vents.
If you sleep with your bedroom door closed you should have a smoke detector in your bedroom.
Test the batteries monthly and replace them at least once a year. A good practice is to change your battery each Fall when you set your clock back.




Portable Heaters

Keep blankets, clothing, curtains, furniture and anything else that could get hot and catch fire at least three feet away from portable heaters.
Plug heaters directly into wall socket and unplug them when not in use.




Safe Cooking Practices

Never Leave Cooking Unattended!
Keep items away from the stove that could catch fire, such as towels, clothing and curtains.
Wear snug fitting clothes while you are cooking. Roll long sleeves up!
If grease catches fire, put a lid on it. Don't try to move burning grease. Put a lid on it. The lid will smother the fire.
Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen, and know how to use it. If unsure, contact your local fire department, they would be more than happy to show you and your family how to be safe!
WATCH what you cook, NEVER, EVER leave cooking food unattended!




Electricity

Use safety plugs in electrical outlets, especially if you have small children.
Avoid overloading electrical outlets and running cords under carpet and furniture.
Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis.
Extension cords must be large enough to handle appliance without getting hot. Buy only UL approved.




Safe Smoking Habits

Never smoke in bed or anywhere that you might fall asleep.
Keep matches and lighters away from children. Matches and lighters are tools not toys.






Fire Escape Drills

Plan and practice a fire escape route from every room. Always have two ways out.
Practice using a fire escape ladder to exit upper levels.
Teach children not to hide from, or be afraid of firefighters. This is extremely important!! While in a fire, we wear air packs and in smoky, dark conditions, we look and sound like monsters. Show them pictures of firefighter's in gear. I have some on my pages.
Identify a special meeting place outside for everyone to meet in case of fire.
Know how to call for emergency assistance. Call 911 from a neighbor's phone, not your own. If there is smoke, get out! Do NOT go back inside to get papers, policies, pictures. These can all be replaced! Conditions in a fire deteriorate very rapidly. The smoky room you just left 30 seconds ago may now be full of flames. Floors and ceilings cave in also. STAY at your meeting place and do not allow the kids to leave.




Using Your Escape Plan

Crawl low, on your hands and knees, under the smoke.
Feel closed doors with the back of your hand. If hot, use another exit. If not hot, open door slowly and check for smoke and fire. Do NOT open doors that are hot!!Teach children not to hide under beds. This and closets are were we find most of them.




Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguishers should be installed on each floor.
Mount on wall in a visible area with top of extinguisher 3-5 feet from floor.
A 5 lb. ABC dry chemical extinguisher is a good fire extinguisher for most homes.
Purchase from an extinguisher dealer that specializes in fire extinguishers and only buy extinguishers with metal heads that can be recharged. On this note, know when to give up and get out. If after using the extinguisher and there are still flames, get out and get help. Some fires are too big for a small extinguisher. Do not get killed or injured trying to put out the fire.




Water safety

I know all of you with pools and other water sources know to watch the little ones around water. Here's something else - watch really small children around washing machines and toilets too. I am not kidding when I tell you I have responded to drownings (and many near drownings) involving these two things. Small kids get what I call "flush fascination" and might accidentally fall in. They are also intrigued with washers. Since it only takes 2" of water for a child to drown, Please watch these areas!!



And another thing. Seat belts. Yup, I know they are uncomfortable and you think it's nobodies business if you wear them, right? Think about this. You have an accident, we (the public safety workers) respond and find you mangled or dead and your children suffer the same demise. You MIGHT be alive but injured if you had been wearing them. So we, the public safety workers, have to find ways to deal with what we saw. O.K., you think that we should be able to handle it. Let me throw another thing at you. Your car insurance only goes so far towards your medical bills. I was hurt so badly in an accident that it didn't cover a small percent of it! Who pays? We all do. Another point - your car insurance goes by your zip code (really, ask your agent. I am not making this up!) and if there are high speed roads with nasty accidents, YOU pay higher insurance. It IS everyone's business whether you buckle up. But if you decide that you personally don't like the contraptions, please buckle your children. Seat belts do not kill, they keep you behind the steering wheel where you can better control your vehicle. They also keep you from flying through the windshield. Buckle up, the life you save may be your own.



Over the years, I have found that they really enjoy the fire drills and have first hand seen good results from this. Keep our kids safe!!!Children learn by example.



In these links you will find hundreds of kid-safe activities. Some are fire related, others are not. There are coloring pages, activities and educational links.

If you know of other great (family safe) sites, email me.




FEMA For KIDS

Smokey Bear coloring pages

The Color Site - more coloring

Jan Brett art work - coloring

Sparky The Fire Dog - activities

The Hot Spot - Gameroom, activities!!

Theodore Tugboat - activities

The Idea Box - more activities

Crayola Creativity site

Disney

Nintendo

SEGA

Pokemon World

MLB - Baseball

NBA - Basketball Site

NFL - Football

Fox Kids







Main Page

Kitchen - Dig in to some recipes!!

My Desk - a little about me!!

Links to other fire related sites

Clean fire related jokes and stories

Memorial Page - poems too








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