GamesAnd Activities Help Kids Learn Fire Safety | | (NAPSA)—At schools through- out the nation, many schoolchildren will be drilled in such fire basics as crawl under smoke and don’t play with matches. But parents have a key role to play in reinforcing fire safety fun- damentals at home, says The Hart- ford Financial Services Group, Inc. For 57 years, their Junior Fire Marshal Program has helped moms and dads makefire safety a family affair, by providing free kidfriendly work sheets, activities and games. The materials are designed for kids in grades kindergarten through third grade andare available in both Spanish and English at www.thehartford.com/jfm. According to the National Fire Protection Association, some 824 youngsters under age 15 die in home fires each year. Parents should sit down with their kids to discuss a fire emergency plan and map out escape routes in case of fire. “A good method we've foundis to involve kids in the planning process,” says Lalani Perry, who oversees the program. “Ask them to draw a picture of your home’s interior, showing the places for doors, windows and smoke detectors. Have them draw at least two ways out, and then, as a family, hold practice drills with everyone meeting at a safe place outside.” Games andactivities posted on the Website can bolster fire safety messages. Work sheets can make learning aboutfire safety fun. Parents should make sure their youngsters know the safe way to get help. | Kids are especially vulnerable in a fire emergency and should learn how to safely escapea fire. “If there’s a fire emergency, first evacuate your house, then call the fire department from a neighbor’s house,” says Perry. “Kids as young as three and four can be taughtto call 911.” Parents should also doublecheck their fire safety equipment to ensure good working order. There should be a smoke detector on each floor and batteries should be changed annually. Perry recommends parents demonstrate the smoke detector’s alarm so their children can recognize the sound in an emergency. The Junior Fire Marshal Pro- gram is the nation’s oldest corporate-sponsored public education program. It has distributed an estimated 110 million signature red-plastic fire helmets over the years.
