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 & Emergency Services – often one number – 9-1-1.
- 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 already a fire escape plan for the home that the family has established and is familiar with? If so, familiarize yourself with it. 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 is hot and/or there is smoke, do not open; find and 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)