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Fire Escape Planning for Babies and Toddlers

 

Graphic of a floor plan of a home  Children as young as three years old can follow a fire escape plan they have practiced often. Yet, many families don't have detailed escape plans, and those that do usually don't practice them.
 Graphic showing Two adults holding hands with a child running from a home Practicing a fire escape plan and fire-safe behaviors on a regular basis can mean the difference between life and death.
 Graphic of a home showing escape routes marked out in red  Draw a basic diagram of your home, marking all windows and doors, and plan two routes of escape out of each room. Consider various fire scenarios when creating your plan and develop actions for a safe escape. Plan for each member of your family, including babies and toddlers who may be unable to escape on their own.

 Graphic showing a woman picking up toys from the floor  Keep exits clear of debris and toys.
 Graphic showing a closed door  Keep your child's bedroom door closed. If a hallway fire occurs, a closed door may hinder the smoke from overpowering your baby or toddler, giving firefighters extra time for rescue.
 Graphic showing firefighters spraying water on a fire Teach toddlers not to hide from firefighters. Their uniforms can be scary in times of crisis. Teach children that firefighters are there to help in an emergency. Take children for a tour at your local fire station so that they can see a firefighter in full gear.
 Graphic showing a child and  an adult crawling on the floor Teach your children how to crawl under the smoke to reduce smoke inhalation
 Graphic showing a child touching a closed door Also, teach your children how to touch closed doors to see if they are hot before opening. If so, use an alternate escape route.
 graphic showing the floor plan of a home with arrows marking the exit routes and a meeting place outside the home. Have a safe meeting place outside the home and teach children never to go back inside.

Practicing fire-safe behaviors and knowing what to do in an emergency can give your family extra seconds to escape.

Visit the Suffolk County Fire Marshal's Office for more Fire Safety Information.

Suffolk County Government

H. Lee Dennison Bldg

100 Veterans Memorial Hwy
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Riverhead County Center

County Road 51
Riverhead, NY 11901