Keeping kids safe from fire

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reviews and collects resources for you to use in your public outreach activities to keep children safe from fire. Explore these materials to learn more about discussing fire safety with parents, teachers and other caregivers.

Digital media library

Here you’ll find social media content, pictographs, stock photos, videos and b-roll to increase awareness about fire safety for children.

Explore the library

Prevention and safety messages to share

Make an escape plan

It is important to have a plan when there are children in your home. Children sometimes need help getting out of the house. They may not know how to escape or what to do unless an adult shows them.

• Have a plan for young children who cannot get outside by themselves. You will need to wake babies and very young children and help them get out. In your plan, talk about who will help each child get out safely.
• It is important to find two ways out of every room in your home, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use.
• Choose a meeting place outside your home. Children should know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. Help them practice going to the outside meeting place. Teach them to never go back inside a building that is on fire.

Keep children safe from fire and burns

Some children are curious about fire. There are simple steps you can take to keep you and the people you love safer from fire and burns.

• Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot. Space heaters and stove-tops can cause terrible burns. Keep children at least 3 feet away from stoves, heaters or anything that gets hot.
• Keep smoking materials locked up in a high place. Never leave cigarette lighters or matches where children can reach them.
• Never play with lighters or matches when you are with your children. Children may try to do the same things they see you do.

Review our statistics on the fire risk to children

Fire safety curriculum for preschoolers

More than half of child fire deaths are among children age four or younger—making them an important audience for fire prevention and education. If you’ve ever visited a preschool classroom to discuss fire safety, or have met with older toddlers during community outreach activities, you know they can be a tough crowd to reach.

That’s why USFA collaborated with Sesame Workshop^™ to create the Sesame Street Fire Safety Program for preschool kids.

Order and download Sesame Street materials

Fire Safety Trailer Curriculum

Adding a fire safety trailer can take your education program to a whole new level by providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that build upon what they learn in the classroom. This curriculum offers you an “out-of-the-box” way to use a fire safety trailer to teach students of all ages about fire safety.

Download the Fire Safety Trailer Curriculum PDF 8.5 MB

Fire Prevention and Public Education Exchange

The Exchange is a collection of national, state and local fire prevention and life safety practices and public education materials you can share with your community. The materials can inspire new ideas and offer fire safety advocates immediate access to proven, effective tools. Visit the Exchange for outreach materials that can help you teach children about fire safety.

Model Exchange programs to teach children about fire safety

USFA would like to call special attention to these innovative fire prevention programs that have measurable impact and outcome measures.

• Empower schools with tools: fire prevention and awareness PDF 56 KB
• Kids first - safety first: a successful community-based fire safety partnership PDF 57 KB
• No child left alone PDF 300 KB
• SafeKids Worldwide
• The adventures of Reminder Man and other ways to battle the evil forces of fire PDF 69 KB