Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is National Fire Prevention Month and is the perfect time to gather your family and discuss fire safety.

If your 5 year old is anything like mine, then you probably have gone through all the phases of obsession with public safety officers. We are currently in the Fireman phase and both Teddy and June are very into pretending to be firemen and “saving” me and their dolls from utter disaster. ( aka spraying water on everything in the driveway)

I put together an easy Fireman costume / fire engine for them to play in and they have really had a blast. Here’s the link to the Fireman hat on amazon, and here is where I got the inspiration for how to make the cardboard box fire engine!

Even though playing fire rescue is fun, I started thinking about what we would do if we actually had a fire in our house. My kids know nothing about fire safety yet. Which is terrifying. We also live in an old restored farmhouse with some of the original 1900 windows that are sealed shut…so not many of them would be an option for escape. It got me thinking about creating a fire safety plan and teaching the kids what to do in the case of a fire emergency. First Alert reached out to me recently to partner with them to create awareness for Fire Safety month this October and it was the perfect opportunity to start teaching my kids the proper safety and outfitting our house with the needed safety equipment.

With the help of First Alert we have created our own Fire Safety Checklist. I encourage you to do the same with your family. I always think “it will never happen to me” but ask anyone whose house has burnt down and I bet they’d say the same thing.

Here’s our Fire Safety Checklist:

•  Install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level and in every bedroom of your home.
• Test your alarms regularly.
• Change the batteries in your alarms at least every six months
  (or for hassle-free protection upgrade to 10- year sealed battery alarms to eliminate battery replacements).
• Plan and practice an emergency escape plan at least twice a year. Plan two ways out of each room/area of your home and a meeting spot, a safe distance from your home. (mailbox, neighbors home, etc.) That way everyone knows how to exit the home and where to meet

** Important stat: 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Ensure you add protection and test your alarms regularly. Ensure you do not remove your alarms or remove the batteries without replacing them.
(Source: National Fire Protection Association).

I was surprised to learn that the #1 cause of fires is unattended cooking. I know I have been guilty of walking away from the stove to attend to a crying child or go to the bathroom. Fire extinguishers should be kept on every level of your home – especially in your main level near or in your kitchen. In the Fire Safety kit we got from First Alert they include this small one that is specifically designed for your kitchen and easily fits in the cabinet under the sink.

As a fun way to discuss this as a family – First Alert has created the checklist for you to print and use as you discuss and create your own Fire Safety checklist with your family. When you finish the checklist, here is a cute Junior Fire Marshal Badge you can print and cut out for the kids!

I hope this has been helpful to you, and I know its a scary thing to think about and discuss with your family, but being prepared is the best way to prevent a tragic outcome, and if you’ve seen This Is Us, then you’re probably equally paranoid about home fires as I am! Use this as a fun way to start the discussion with your kids and take the proper measures to make sure your home and family are protected!

xo,

K