We are happy to partner with First Alert on this post. All opinions are our own. 
I grew up in living in in the mountains 60 miles east of Los Angeles here in Southern California. Living in the mountains I grew up with fires, some of the fires near Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear got so bad we would evacuate off the mountain. I knew the tremendous impact of fires and remember many nights sitting watching the fires just over the next mountain. We take fire safety serious here in California so it’s really important to me to make sure our children are also prepared.
It’s fire safety month and it’s time to take fires seriously. It’s important for families to be sure they’re prepared. To start to created this simple family fire plan checklist to get your family started. 
We wanted to be sure that our smoke alarms were up to date so we started first by talking to our kids about the alarms and showing them the sounds. It’s important they know how to army crawl and understand to get low to the floor.
They also need to know where the exits are and how to use a ladder since our bedrooms are on the third floor. We also want to know of a meeting spot in case we should ever be seperated and just even teaching our girls to call 911 if they ever see a fire. We want our children to be armed with the information they need to possibly save their life. It’s something I had growing up and something every family really should be going over.
Especially as we head into winter. A week before Christmas when I was 12 years old one night our dryer caught on fire. Turns out our venting had come undone and there was a build up of laundry fluff and it caught on fire. The smoke actually started to come through my heater vent in my bedroom because the heater had just turned on. I was prepared, as soon as I smelled smoke I called 911 then told my parents. They were able to put the fire out with animal damage to our laundry room but we learned many valuable lessons that night. Fires can happen suddenly and by accident. Knowing what to do in an emergency is incredibly important. 
First Alert is encouraging everyone to unleash their own super powers with the “Super Prepared Family” to help spread awareness about home fire safety.
Check out this video –
How are you talking to your children about fire safety?
GIVEAWAY!!
We’ve taught them not to play with lighters, candles, or anything flame related. We’ve also discussed getting out of rooms and house if a fire breaks out.
Safety is so important to my whole family and the children.
By making sure they know where to exit and meet at if they get lost.
We talked to our daughter about what to do in case of a fire. We talked about escaping the house and how to call the fire department.
We actually talked about it during a field trip to the fire station
I’ve talked to my nieces about fire safety, in 93 my house burnt down.
I do not have any children to talk about fire planning but I have certainly prepared myself.
I have talked to my kids about fire safety. I just need to come up with a fire safety plan, so everybody knows what to do and where to go!
They are too little right now but they have been to a fire station to take pictures with the fire truck.
I don’t have any children.
We explain that sometimes disasters happen and we need to be prepared. We go over exit plans. who to call once safely out, where to go, etc.
We are talking to our children about fire safety with family file alarm practice days
they have a fire truck every year at our fall festival set up with a fire demonstration which we stop by with the kids and discuss fire saftey there.
We have a plan of where to go in case a fire breaks out. We need to do more though, for sure.
I make sure everyone knows how to call 911.
We have a family meeting talking about escape routes.
We have discussed where they are to escape in an emergency. Thank you
We have gone to fire safety events at our local fire department and have made our escape plan
We have talked about it and we have a fire escape plan.
Yes, I have talked to my children about fire safety
We have discussed it and we have smoke detectors.
We are showing fire safety videos to our 3 year old son. He seems to understand. we have also done some scenarios he thinks its funny but as long as he learns its a win for us.
My kids are grown adults, I’ve talked to them about fire safety.
I actually run a county home for disabled adults and we have fire drills 4 times and year and we post an evacuation map on the quickest way out to safety and where to all meet once we are outdoors.
The most important thing is escape routes.
Just went over all this with my elderly parents. And then with my adult children.
I let them know about a safety plan on what to do in case of a fire by how to get out and by where to meet outside
My grandson knows that if the smoke alarm goes off, we gather the kittens in their carrier and we meet outside by the big tree. He has also been practicing his stop, drop and roll!
I have talked to my kids a little bit and have taken them to safety fairs
We have talked about where to go if there is a fire and what to do.
We have discussed an escape route.
We have discussed the dangers of fire and have an escape plan.
We have an escape plan and we discuss the stop, drop, and roll!
We teach the children that we check smoke alarms regularly and also safety in the kitchen to prevent burns.
My kids are all grown and are out on their own but I do always tell them to test their smoke alarm batteries to make sure it is working and to change the batteries every 6 months or sooner
we plan from time to time
We have a family meeting about once per year to practice our safety plans
We discussed escape route and how not to try to gather things or use phones during fires. Kids are grown now and have granddaughters to teach next. I currently have no items such as the ones given away and need them.
I’ve warned against matches, lighters, the stove, etc and about getting out of the house and calling 911.
We always talk about fire safety because we have a fireplace, lit candles, a fire pit and a hot stove and oven. We have a fire safety plan and a meeting place because my daughter learned about this in school.
I have not taught my nephew fire safety, but I bet his parents have already talked to him about escape plans in an emergency.
Yes we have talked to them about what to do. We also make sure they understand what to do
I teach them that if there is a fire, they get out.
we’ve discussed both an escape route and a meeting place
We talk about prevention and escape plans.
It helps to use visual aids/stories to help them understand because they are younger.
I talk to my kids on how important smoke detectors are and our plan for escape in the event a fire happens.
I have not talked to my granddaughter yet about a fire plan, but thanks to ideas on this page, I’ll have content to discuss when she comes over soon. We need to practice an escape plan for sure.
We talk all the time about our plan. My family knows the best ways to get out of the house and where we are to meet once out.
we’ve talked about fire alarms, smoke, heat, where to meet, how to get out and I’ve taken them to the fire department open house so they can see the fire trucks and learn as well.
We have an exit strategy and have tried to teach the kids not to play with matches or lighters.
We had a neighbors who’s home burned and have reminded them of the importance of safety – we continue to practice all our emergency routines to be prepared as best we can.
We watch kid oriented videos online and I print or purchase kid friendly (and fun) literature
We had the talk many times now.
We have talked about what to do in an emergency.
I have taught them how to stop drop and roll.
No, I do not think I have talked enough to my kids about fire safety.. I need to do better with this information.
I don’t have kids!
We talk, watch videos and practice.
we have a plan and we talk about it and practice it regularly. fire protection is key.
We practice how to get out of the house.
We talked about meeting place, but from reading some of these other comments I think we need to do more.
We discuss our safety plan at least once a year and conduct a practice fire drill
we run escape help fire drills
We make sure they know not to joke about fire.
Always run drills
I live alone and am cautious about leaving the oven on and keeping fresh batteries in the smoke alarm.
We have visited the fire station.
They are all grown up but I could still use this myself
Escape plans and the danger of matches and lighters.
My children are grown, so the fire safety in this house is pretty well set in their heads–call 911, know exits, fire extinguishers, meet outside, etc.
We talk about safety and how fires can start.
Yes, we have.
I have always been fore conscious, even before I had kids. Fire extinguishers and detectors have always been routine for me, and I have instilled that into my kids.
We have our escape planned out and have practiced it.
In case of a fire in our home, we discussed the best solutions during that situation.
We just had a pretty big fire near us, so we had a good talk about fire safety.
My daughter knows where to meet if we have an emergency.
We created a fire escape plan with multiple exits and a meeting pointing away from the house with my daughter’s help
yes we do and we tell them break whatever it is you need to to get out! stop drop roll go go go and meet across the street at the neightbors house so we can connect
we have a rally point and multiple exits
I don’t have any kids yet, but my family knows to go out the windows.
My kids are a little older so we just know to leave the house at the first sign of smoke. I’m lucky that all they have to do is step outside their windows.
We have a mock fire drills
I have no kids, but thanks!
We do fire drills and have a book that we read at times before bed that talks about fire safety.
We go over escape routes and what to do in case.
My kids are fortunate enough to take a yearly visit to the local fire station where they meet the fireman, get to check out the fire engines, and are taught about fire safety.
It was fire safety week at school this week here. We visited the fire department last night and have been working on a fire drill plan. We have been practicing all week. So important the kids know…to get out and go to our meeting place.
No children at home but we have talked about a safety plan together.
I have taught them how to stop drop and roll.
I do not have kids, but we practice safety at home when my nieces and nephews come to visit.
We have talked to the kids about how t put out the different kinds of fires & how to get out of the house different ways if paths are blocked by fire.
This is a topic that is VERY important! My brother accidentally set our kitchen on fire when we were kids and luckily no one was hurt. Looking back on that incident makes me wish that our parents informed us on safety procedures! Now that I am a mom I am determined to give my son the information that I lacked growing up. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
My kids are so young that all we’ve talked about is ‘matches/candles/oven/etc are for grownups’ and ‘if there’s a fire, yell and get out’
We have talked about fire safety and what to do if there is ever a fire but it has been a while. We could all use a refresher course.
We haven’t talked about fire safety, but that is definitely something we need to do!
We not only talk to our kids about fire safety but fire prevention. Thanks.
We set up a meeting place in case of a fire, and talked about the various ways to exit safely.
We do fire drills and talk about safety
We have mock fire drills and also talk about the meeting place outside. Thank you
We have a mock firedrill~
I took my son and his friends to the local fire department who were holding a testing area where the kids can go into a smoking trailer and learn how to stop, drop and roll….it was fun and they learned something memorable too.
we do fire drils and talk about fire safety
Talking to them fire safety, and to flee from the fire if they see one.
The most important lesson for young children to learn in the kitchen is that the stove is hot, and they should keep away from it when it’s in use. When my daughter got older and ready to begin cooking for herseflf, I instructed her further on individual appliance safety and extinguishing cooking fires.
Everyone knows the multiple ways to get out of the house and where to meet once they’re out.
We had talks about safety procedures and had a meeting place in case of an emergency.
We always made sure the kids knew two ways to exit the home in case of a fire and not ever to re-enter the home once they were out.
This has been a topic of discussion and news about the fires in California has been a natural way to bring this into the conversation.
We do fire drills and have a plan to where to meet in case of a fire!
We make sure they are aware of escape routes and procedures if they are caught in a burning building….it helps that their dad is a fire fighter. 🙂 Thank you.
When my daughter was young, we had a safety plan where we designated a tree , down the block, across the street as our meeting place in case of emergency.
We’ve always talked about escape routes and what to do when you get out… but that getting out is #1.
We are talking about escape plans for the house, and we are doing fire drills