Raising Children

Open flames

• Keep candles at least three feet from anything that can burn and never leave a candle unattended.

• Consider using flameless candles instead of real candles. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

• Test your smoke and CO alarms monthly; change the batteries at least once a year.

• Did you know that fire doubles in size every 60 seconds? A smoke alarm can give you the time you need to escape.

• Install smoke alarms in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home.

• CO alarms should be installed within 10 feet of each sleeping room or inside each sleeping room.

• Keep in mind that technology related to fire prevention is always improving. Duluth fire marshal Marnie Grondahl said that families should consider interconnected smoke alarms. “They’re equipped with a radio chip,” she said. “When one goes off, they all go off.”

Family escape planning

• Create a family escape plan and practice it twice a year with everyone in your home.

• Start by drawing a map of your home that shows two ways out of every room. Make sure those ways out are easy to open (make sure windows aren’t painted shut, for example), and practice using different ones. If you have a multi-level home, consider putting an escape ladder near each window so you can get to the ground safely in an emergency.

• Designate a meeting place outside, such as a tree or utility pole.

• Family escape plans should be adjusted to meet the developmental level of each child as they grow. “When kids are preschool age, I keep it simple with the advice to ‘keep low and go,’” Grondahl said. “As they get older, children can be taught to feel the back of the door for heat before they exit.”

Pajamas And Sleeping Tips

Parents may be curious about the necessity of special pajamas, known to be constructed with flame-resistant materials, to keep sleeping children safer in a fire. “Parents can certainly look for the terms ‘fire-retardant’ or ‘flameresistant’ on their kids’ pajamas, but it’s even more important to have working, well-maintained smoke alarms in your home,” Grondahl said.

“Another line of defense,” said Jon Otis, Duluth deputy fire marshal, “is to keep your bedroom door shut. The temperatures in the closed room will stay much cooler and keep smoke out of the room, making a fire much more survivable.”

It is recommended that even infants should sleep in a room with a closed door. If they’re in a separate room, consider using a baby monitor to keep tabs on your little ones while they sleep.

Quick Response In An Emergency

While these tips are very effective in preventing house fires, unfortunately they can and do still occur. Keep in mind that if an emergency arises, our local fire department is equipped to respond quickly to a fire.

“From a fire safety standpoint,” Otis said, “There’s a lot you can do to protect your family. But if you do experience a house fire, we in Duluth are fortunate to have a very fast response time once you dial 911.” MDT

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to Moms & Dads Today.

Raising Children