"Curious Kids Start Fires"  

Most of the children who start fires are simply playing with matches or lighters out of curiosity. They are fascinated with fire. The are imitating grown-ups without knowing how dangerous a single match can be. Fortunately, we all can take simple steps to prevent many of these fatal fires:

Keep Matches And Lighters In The Right Hands!

Most children can all too easily get matches or lighters in their own homes. Most children are curious about fire, and that curiosity sometimes cost them their lives.

Keep Matches & Lighters Out Of Reach

• Matches and lighters should always be kept on a high shelf that children can't reach. As young children learn to walk and climb on furniture, you may need to find a new place to keep matches and lighters safe.
  
  
• Lighters pose a special danger to young children. Lighters are attractive and in some cases may be easier for young children to light than matches.
  
  
• Children who live with smokers are especially at risk, because smokers often keep matches or lighters readily available - where children can reach them, too. With smokers in the home, be doubly alert to keep matches and lighters out of children's hands.

Fire Safety Education - Lessons For Life

• Every child should be taught that matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Adults use these tools for specific purposes: lighting the stove, lighting campfires, lighting a candle.
  
  
• Begin early to teach children that a fire started by one match can destroy a house or kill someone.
  
  
• Make clear that this is the reason only adults may use matches and lighters.
  
  
• At the same time, you can begin to teach children how to be firesafe. Teach them to be watchful when people smoke in the house. Teach them to make sure that ashes, matches and butts all go into the ash tray.
  
  
• Young children will sometimes get their hands on matches you thought they could never reach. This is one reason it's so important not to leave children alone or unsupervised. It doesn't take long for a deadly fire to start.