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Advice For Parents Of Young Children

Measures to keep your children safe include:

  • Don’t leave children on their own in a room where there is a fire risk 
  • Never let them play near the oven and hob.
  • Keep matches, lighters, candles and tea lights out of reach of children or in a locked cupboard. 
  • Put a childproof fireguard in front of an open fire or heater.
  • Don’t let children play or leave toys near a fire or heater.
  • Keep portable heaters in a safe place where they can’t be knocked over when they are being used or stored. 
  • Place plug guards into sockets so children can’t stick anything into the holes.
  • Keep your fire escape route clear of toys and other obstructions.
  • Teach your children what to do if there is a fire
  • Simple instructions can be easily remembered:
    • If you see smoke or fire, raise the alarm and tell a grown up immediately.  
    • Get out of the building as soon as possible. Go to the house next door if you can and ask them to call 112. 
    • If there is smoke in the room, crawl low along the floor. 
    • Never hide in a cupboard or under the bed. Do all you can to raise the alarm and get out 
    • If the way out is blocked, go into a room with a window. Put blankets or towels at the bottom of the door to stop smoke getting in. If there is a phone in the room, dial 112. If there isn’t a phone, open the window and shout – help!  
    • Don’t go back into the building, not even for pets.

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