As the babysitter, you are responsible for the children in your care. Here are some important points you need to know if there’s a fire emergency in the home where you babysit.

Before the parents leave:

• Write down the complete address and phone number of the place where you are babysitting and phone numbers for:
  • Fire, Police, Ambulance, Poison Control – often one number – 911.
  • Where the parents can be reached.
  • Neighbour(s).
  • Keep this information in your pocket so that it’s with you at all times and handy in case
    of an emergency.

 

Plan Your Escape

If there is a fire while you are in charge, you must know what to do:

• Is there a fire escape plan? If not, develop one.
•  Identify all escape routes.
•  Find at least two ways out of each room.
•  Plan how you and the children will escape safely.
•  Decide on an outside meeting place.
•  Ask for a demonstration of the smoke alarm.

Guide to Fire Safety

The best way to keep fire safe is to be watchful of the children in your charge:

• Never leave children unsupervised.
•  Check on sleeping children regularly.
•  Keep matches and lighters out of their reach.
•  Do not light candles while babysitting.
•  Don’t smoke on the job.
•  Keep children away from the stove, hot liquids, electric lamps and space heaters.
•  Keep space heaters at least 1 metre (40 inches) from drapes, furniture and bedding.
•  Cook safely and only if you have permission.
•  Turn pot handles in to avoid children knocking them over or pulling them down.
•  Smother a pan fire with a lid. Never use water.
• Make sure you know what cooking materials can be used for the microwave.

Burn Prevention

• Always test hot foods and liquids before feeding.
• Fire Safety: What to do, because fire spreads fast – don’t delay!
• If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP & ROLL on the floor to smother the flames.
• Cool minor burns with cold water. If your skin is blistered, charred or dead white, get emergency help immediately.
• When you see flames, smell smoke or hear the smoke alarm, get everybody out of the house.
• Feel the door first. If it isn’t hot, open it very slowly.
• If there is fire or smoke use another exit.
• Crawl low under smoke – the air near the floor is safer to breathe.
• If you cannot escape, close the door and seal around it with cloth to prevent smoke from entering the room.
• Always use the stairs and never the elevators.
• Designate a meeting place a safe distance from the house and make sure everyone is there.
• Take the children to a neighbour.
• Phone the emergency number from the neighbour’s home.
• Give the complete address, describe the situation and inform the operator if anyone is still inside.
• Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.
• Do not go back to the house for any reason.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
FIRE:
POLICE:
AMBULANCE:
PARENTS:
NEIGHBOUR:
THIS ADDRESS:

 

Source: Fire Prevention Canada