House Fires and Youth Education

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

Oregon is not usually listed nationally in the top 10 states with most House Fires, at least over the past handful of years. Fire data and safety statistics show repeatedly that New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania have all been in the top 5 over the past years…repeatedly.

If you have PulsePoint on your phone, you probably see the engines being called out constantly. Most of those, over 60% actually, are for medical response.

As a state, I think Oregon is very environmentally aware, therefor I think we have excellent fire safety programs. Like these youth resources from the Oregon State Fire Marshall: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/Youth-Fire-Safety.aspx

No matter the circumstances, house fires are never an easy thing to think about happening. That is why talking about them is essential to education. Whether you have a child that is new to the idea of fire safety, or you yourself can practice better fire safety practices, it’s always a good idea to brush up on the latest safety protocols and prevention tips.

If you are interested in talking points to share about house fires with older kids, here are some great resources from FEMA: (printer friendly) https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/safety/fire-safety-home-students.pdf

It’s important to note to kids, that although the idea of house fires are scary, the better educated you are on fire safety and prevention, the lower chance you have of suffering a house fire. House fires (except under extreme wildfire circumstances) are preventable. Education, especially with children in the home, is a must.

A great resource for all disaster education and prevention tips continues to be FEMA. No matter your child’s age, there are different levels of topics and resources at this link: https://www.ready.gov/kids

Educating kids on fire safety, and disaster response safety is a powerful tool. And kids, no matter the age, can learn fire prevention tips.