You will want to make sure that children are always safe. This includes teaching them how to prevent fire and what to do if there is one.
You will probably need to talk about fire safety with children more than once. This is to make sure that they have remembered and understood what you have taught them.
As a rule, younger children – around five and below – should be given clear instructions about what they should and shouldn’t do. With older children, it’s better to explain why so they can understand the danger and apply that knowledge to different situations.
As well as talking to your children, remember children learn by example. Let your children see you being sensible and careful about cooking, candles and other potential risks and practise your escape plan with them.
It is very important to keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. Children can become very interested in fire and matches. Please explain to them that it can hurt them and they must not touch them. Teach them this rhyme “matches, lighters never touch; they can hurt you very much”.
Top tips on how to keep your family fire safe Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service | Advice for parents, child carers and babysitters (dwfire.org.uk)
If your child is leaving home to live independently or go to university, you may find this information useful – Shared and rented accommodation.
If you are concerned that your child is playing with fire, firesetting, or you are worried about the interest they are showing in fire, we are able to offer help and advice – see Positive Fire Behaviour Programme.
If you have a child who is worried or concerned about a potential fire, we are able to offer help and advice via our Positive Fire Behaviour Programme.
If there has been a fire, you may find this resource useful to help engage in a conversation with younger children. After a Fire (office.com) If they are still upset or worried please do contact us for further help and advice via our Positive Fire Behaviour Programme.
If your child has had a DWISE visit from the fire and rescue service in Reception, Key Stage 1 or 2, you should have received some information, emailed from the school, to help you discuss the safety information with your child. If you did not, please contact your school. There is a prize draw with a chance to win a VIP trip to a fire station for the winning child and £50 book token for their school.
Prize draw terms and conditions
Primary aged schools home safety survey book token prize draw terms and conditions
- Prize draw will be made at the end of each academic year on 1st August when all DWFRS education school visits have been made.
- The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
- DWFRS reserve the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value at any time.
- For entry into the prize draw all questions must have been completed.
- Only one entry per child is permitted.
- There is one prize for “safe to play, stay away” lesson entries, one prize for “Dragon fire safety” lesson entries, and one prize for “Fire investigation Officer” entries.
- The winning school must have had either a virtual or physical visit by DWFRS Education Officers in that academic year.
- Entries are via the Microsoft Forms sent out to parents/carers via the school after the visit.
- DWFRS are not responsible for entries not received either via the post or electronically or after midnight on 31st July of each academic year.
- The decision of the prize draw will be made by DWFRS.
- The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into.
- Winning schools will be informed as soon as possible and arrangements to send the book token will be made.
- All contact with the winning child will be made via the school in the first instance.
- These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.