Children can learn fire safety at an early age. Following are games and activities to help teach children important fire safety objectives while having fun!
Smoke Detector Detective
Objective: To learn about smoke detectors. Smoke detectors have a battery that needs to be changed each year. Also, smoke detectors have a “nose” which smells smoke. Detectors make a loud beep when they smell smoke.
Materials: 2 small white paper plates, 1 black paper circle (about the size of a quarter in the USA, 10p in the UK), 1 red dot sticker, cut out of a battery, stapler, and glue
Directions: Inside one plate, glue the battery cut out and the black circle, which serves as the “nose” to smell the smoke. Place the second plate on top, and staple it in two places so that it can still be opened. On the top, add the red sticker for the test button. Children can pretend to test their smoke detectors.
Stop, Drop, and Roll
Objective: To practise “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” “Stop, Drop, and Roll” is important to learn in the event that your clothes catch on fire. If your clothes are on fire, it is vital to stop immediately where you are and drop to the ground. Cover your mouth and face with your hands to help protect your face from flames and protect your lungs from smoke. Roll on the ground until the flames are out. It is important to emphasise this procedure is only for if your clothes are on fire.
Directions: You can practice the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” procedure in a variety of ways. You can have children start rolling when you blow a whistle and stop when you blow it again. If there are enough children, you can have a “Stop, Drop, and Roll” relay race.
Cool a Burn
Objective: To teach a child the correct first aid procedure for a minor burn. A burn should be rinsed with cool water immediately for 10-15 minutes. A minor burn is one that is red with slight pain. A serious burn includes redness, blistering, white skin, or charred skin. This also should be cooled with water, and medical attention should be sought.
Directions: Give the child one half of an orange to explain the layers of skin. The peel of the orange is like the outer layer of our skin, called the epidermis. The white layer of the orange is like the inner layer of our skin, called the dermis. The fruit is like the layer of fatty tissue that connects the skin to our body. It is important to cool a burn because the burn will go deeper into the layers of skin. The deeper a burn goes, the worse it is. Stress to the child the importance of letting an adult know when he has been burned. The child can eat the orange for a snack!
Crawl Under Smoke
Objective: Smoke is dangerous to breathe because it has poisonous gases that can cause breathing problems, confusion, and death. It is also hard to see through smoke to access an exit. Smoke rises, so it is important to crawl on your hands and knees to breathe the cleaner air close to the floor.
Directions: Using a blanket, have children hold the “smoke” close to the ground while others practice crawling under it. You can practice this in the form of a relay race, or to start and stop at the sound of a whistle.