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Fires are the No.1 cause of death in the home for children under 5, and the NFPA
(National Fire Protection Association) estimates that a third of those children died in fires they themselves started.
Roughly one of every eight fatal structure fires is started by a child under age 13. In 1991, 47 percent of arson arrests involved juveniles.
Some children engage in fire play out of curiosity, without realizing the dangers. Some use fire play as a bid for attention or a way to oppose authority. Children in crisis may set fires intentionally,
as a way of acting out their emotions. With proper intervention, children who set fires can be helped.
Playing with Fire
All children the should be taught that matches and lighters are tools, not toys, and that fire is dangerous.
Always keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children, and never leave a child alone with a burning candle,
shelter fire, fireplace fire, campfire, barbecue, or any other open flame.
Older children should be taught, with adult supervision, how to
use fire properly. Have them help you use fire responsibly through such safe activities as blowing out candles or putting charcoal in a barbecue grill before you light it.
Never try to scare children away from fire. Teach them to respect it just as you would teach them to respect traffic or power tools. If a child expresses a natural interest in fire, don't overreact.
Crisis Fire Setters
There is no single profile of a crisis fire setter. The negative behavior characteristics associated with setting fires are shared to some extent by all young people, most of whom never set a fire. In
general, experts agree that setting a fire, like other anti-social behavior, is often a way of getting attention, exercising power, or acting out the need for help.
The "crisis fire setter" is typically a school-aged child, usually a male, in his or her early teens or younger who
is shy and withdrawn, upset about a crisis or major change in his or her life (a death, move, or divorce, for example), or feels confused, angry, frustrated, or
powerless. Sometimes, a child who deliberately sets fires feels alienated because of a learning disability or a source of chronic failure.
Sometimes, he or she comes from an abusive household. The deadly fires these young people set are symbolic and often self-destructive.
They result from complex family, social, and psychological circumstances.
Such children need help. Their fire-setting is a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself. But it must be stopped. Parents,
teachers, school administrators and neighbors should step in when they suspect
troubled children of using fire irresponsibly.
If your child plays with matches and doesn't respond to your efforts to redirect his or her interest, the child may need professional counseling. Parents who suspect, or find evidence, that their child is setting
even very small fires should approach the child with concern for the potentially fatal consequences of fire setting. They should also reassure the child about any crisis that may be provoking the behavior, listen carefully when the child
describes his or her feelings, and seek professional help.
Crisis fire setters may have trouble talking about their problems and feelings with parents or
counselors. There
are special programs that can help. Many schools and fire departments offer programs to help children who play with
or set fires. Contact
your local fire department or school counselor for details.
Social service agencies can help a child and his or her family deal with the underlying problems that motivate crisis fire setting.
Set a good example by following basic fire-safety practices in the home and teach your
children to respect fire.
- Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Store flammable liquids properly and away from children..
- Protect your home by keeping your property free of fuels such as brush and
rubbish.
- Never leave young children alone with an open flame.
- Teach older children to use fire responsibly.
If you suspect your child is setting fires, get help immediately.
Birth - 3 Months
In Crib:
- Keep sides up to prevent falls. See that bars are no more then 2 3/8 inches apart or baby's head can get stuck. Use bumper guards. .
- Buy a firm mattress so baby can't push its head into it and smother. It must fit tightly so baby can't slip between it and the sides. .
- Never use a pillow, straps or harness because baby could suffocate or be strangled by them, or a crib that is in disrepair.
In Carriage:
- Check often to see that baby's face is not covered with blankets, clothing or anything that
could suffocate.
- Keep the carriage free of pins, buttons, and plastic bags that baby could grab and put in its
mouth or over its face.
- Fasten hanging toys and mobiles firmly so baby can't pull down strings and get them caught
around neck.
In Bassinet or Infant Seat:
- Keep a hand on baby when dressing and bathing. Never change baby with open safety pins in your
mouth. Pins could fall into baby's mouth.
- Check bath water temperature with your elbow before placing baby into water.
- To prevent burns or shock, make sure no electrical units are nearby tub or water.
- Never put baby seat on high surface unless you're with baby, because the seat can fall or tip
over.
In While Baby is Being Fed:
- Hold baby. Avoid propping bottle or baby can spit up or inhale liquids. Use a one piece, sturdy
pacifier on a short cord.
- Check that the nipple isn't to large, soft or torn or baby might get too much liquid too fast. Make sure
that liquids aren't too hot.
- Never feed baby in bed because you may fall asleep, roll on top of baby and stop its
breathing or injure the infant.
- Never "SMOKE" near or around any baby.
4 - 6 Months
In Playpen:
- Use wooden one with smooth slats close together or a mesh one with small holes and metal
locks on the outside. Pad sides & bottom.
- Avoid tying toys to sides because baby can grab or get entangled on taps or stings. Check
for sharp edges and loose screws.
- Keep at least 2 feet away from objects like glass, and units like stoves, that baby can reach.
Put the playpen where you can always see baby
In Kitchen:
- Keep appliance cords out of reach and hot foods and liquids in center of table so baby can't
pull them down on its self and get burned.
- Read labels of products under the sink and on low shelves to see if poisonous when
swallowed, eaten or inhaled. Put out of reach.
- Never let baby crawl around while you are cooking or serving. Use a firmly attached safety
gate to keep baby out of the kitchen area.
Near Stairs, Heaters & Outlets:
- Place safety gates with vertical slats or plastic mesh on top and bottom of stairs so baby
can't crawl up or down.
- Put safety guards, screens or insulation around heaters, radiators and fireplaces. Secure
them so they can't be pulled down.
- Install safety caps or plugs on all electrical outlet, so baby can't stick fingers or metal objects
inside.
Around Playthings:
- Use only nonflammable, washable, nonbreakable toys painted with lead-free paint. Read
package to see if age-appropriate.
- Make sure there are no rough or sharp edges, points or protrusions.
- See that there are no small parts to remove and swallow, inhale or put in nose or ear.
Never give child an un-inflated balloon.
7 - 11 Months
Around Furniture:
- Remove long drape cords and tablecloths that baby can pull, and move objects on shelves
and drawers out of reach.
- Keep pails of water off floor so baby doesn't fall into them.
- Keep electrical appliances off floor so baby won't handle.
- Check wall, ceiling and baby furniture to see if painted with lead paint. Remove chips and
repaint with lead-free paint.
In High Chair and Car Seat:
- Select high chair with wide base that won't tip easily and fall over if baby rocks or moves.
- Lock folding mechanism carefully so chair doesn't collapse when baby leans, climbs or
rocks.
- Use straps or safety harness to secure baby in chair or car seat. Make sure car seat is for
baby's age and weight.
In Kitchen:
- Avoid feeding nuts, raw vegetables, foods with seeds and bones and big pieces until 4 years
of age.
- Use only unbreakable glasses and bottles for baby.
- Watch that baby doesn't climb to reach handles of pots on stoves. Turn handles toward
back of stove.
1 - 3 Years
With Toys:
- Buy battery operated instead of plug-ins. Avoid toy chest for child under 3 because lids,
corners and hinges pose dangers.
- See that wooden toys are screwed together, not nailed or glued. Fix broken toys or discard
when they can't be fixed.
- Check that there are no exposed pins, wires, nails or holes to catch hair, fingers or toes.
Near Fire Hazards
- Keep child away from matches, lighters and open fires.
- Buy flame-resistant nightwear, clothing and fabrics for furnishings.
- Keep flammable objects at least 3 feet away from heat-generating sources, e.g. heating or
cooking units.
- Store oily rags, barbecue charcoal and flammable liquids in labeled metal container with
tight lid, in a cool dry place.
Near Poisons
- Check house for toxic products and plants and keep out of reach. Keep drugs in child-resistant containers.
- Never leave a child alone with a poisonous substance.
- Never store near food or utensils for preparing food or medicines.
- Never transfer to another container without labeling.
Around Windows and Doors
- Secure doors leading to stairs, driveways, and storage areas with locks or safety latches.
- Put guards, bars or locks on windows to keep them from being opened by baby. *(Don't
have bars that cover the whole opening)
- Examine screens to see that they are strong and can't be easily pushed out.
4 - 6 Years
Around Pets:
- Never let child tease or over exercise a pet, hold faces close to its mouth, pull tail, take away bone or toy
with out adult near by.
- Avoid letting child give food to pet unless child and pet are used to each other. If child has been playing with pet, make sure he/she washes hands thoroughly before eating.
- Teach child to avoid strange animals and let pet sniff child and make first move to befriend
child.
Around Sharp Objects Cutting Tools:
- Tell child not to run when carrying scissors and knives or pencils. Instruct he/she to carry them away from body and turn them around when handing to someone.
- Never throw used razor blades, broken glass or can lids away unless wrapped because child could pick them up.
- Keep play areas free of sharp items and glass. Never let a child play with cutting tools or sharp objects.
On Steps / Floors / Bathtub:
- Keep steps free of clutter and well lit so child doesn't trip on way up or down.
- See that polished and waxed floors are not too slippery.
- Secure scatter rugs so child won't trip.
- Put handrails or treads on steps and mats or strips in bathtub to keep child from slipping.
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