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Talk with all family members about fire safety and the responsibilities of all family members to act safe, which include telling parents if someone has a lighter or if someone is burning papers.
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Secure all fire starter materials such as matches and lighters in locked or “child proof” containers.
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Only use lighters that have safety features such as pressing or pushing a lever as you press down on the tongue of the lighter.
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Choose a lighter that requires a lot of pressure on the tongue of the lighter to ignite it and keep it ignited.
· Limit the number of lighters that you have in the household to 1 or 2.
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Only use safety matches that require a striker attached to the matchbook.
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Do not buy stick matches because they are easier to light for young children.
· Limit the number of matches you have in the household to 1 or 2.
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Do not refill or fix lighters in front of youths because it looks too tempting to do themselves.
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Buy plain, dull looking lighters only. Do not buy lighters that have “eye catching” designs such as lighters that have colorful cool patterns or lights, realistic pictures or more imaginary depictions of animals, army or gun like lighters, easily identifiable child places such as Disney World, or cartoon characters such as Sponge Bob or Bugs Bunny.
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Reward any positive comments made about fire safety.
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Include the child in making safety plans for the household.
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Take turns in the household for various safety issues in the household including fire.
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With you child, watch a child film “Disney-like” videos on fire that has a lesson of no fire play (e.g., Rescue Hero videos).
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With your child, read a children’s book with pictures on fire that has a lesson of no fire play (e.g., xxx).
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Do not encourage or permit direct fire play such as with campfires or burn barrels during the period of curiosity fire setting.
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Do not have household fire related materials such as candles burning during the period of curiosity fire setting.
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“Download” or buy coloring books that have positive images of fire fighters and fire safety, and negative images of fire setters.
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Encourage playing with action toys with fire safety messages such as “Rescue Heroes” and use the pretend play situations to encourage fire safety.
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Use “think-out-loud” techniques in which adult think out loud about a fire concern, consequences and solution (e.g., “Where did I put my lighter…I should be more careful where I put a lighter because it can…. ).
FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (6-12) WHO ARE CURIOUS ABOUT SETTING FIRES:
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Talk (re-talk) with all family members about fire safety and the responsibilities of all family members to act safe, which include telling parents if someone has a lighter or if someone is burning papers.
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Secure all fire starter materials such as matches and lighters in locked boxes.
-
Only use lighters that have safety features such as pressing or pushing a lever as you press down on the tongue of the lighter.
-
Choose a lighter that requires a lot of pressure on the tongue of the lighter to ignite it and keep it ignited.
-
Still buy plain, dull looking lighters only. Do not buy lighters that have “eye catching” designs such as lighters that appeal to older children (e.g., gadget lighters such as having a watch or lights up, lighter with pictures of real animals such as eagles and wolves, colorful & cool patterns such as tie-dye, camouflage army or hunting theme lighters, sports items such as a soccer or basket balls, identifiable youth activities such as a skate boarding or snow boarding, gun-like lighters, easily identifiable youth places such as Disney World, cartoon or movie characters such as Yu-Gi-Oh or King Kong, and sports teams such as the Buffalo Bills or Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Limit the number of lighters that you have in the household to 1 or 2.
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Only use safety matches that require a striker attached to the matchbook.
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Do not buy stick matches because they are still easier to light.
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Limit the number of matches you have in the household to 1 or 2.
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Do not refill or fix lighters in front of youths.
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Secure all fire propellants in a safe (locked) area of the household or house property (garage or shed), such as various forms of duro-logs, camping supplies that are fire starters, or various forms of gel food warming devices. Do openly store fire propellants such as gas, kerosene, paint thinners, charcoal lighter fluid, or lighter fluid.
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Purge the household of any video games that desensitize a youth to fire (make it seem playful) or glorify its use.
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Reward any positive response to redirection about fire talk or fire behaviors.
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Watch videos that are more directly about fire damage and fire injuries resulting from fire. Such short clips or movies are available on-line (see Educational Links for this Website) or through other educational resources (e.g., fire facilities and libraries). The videos for older children can be more graphic about the property damage and personal injuries of fires.
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Talk to a burn victim and focus on accidental fires caused by curiosity
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Talk with local fire fighters such as volunteer or professional firemen about the impact of fire on property and personal injury.
· Encourage participation in community fire hall events (such as fund raising activities for the local fire hall) that align these youths with the goals of fire safety.
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Encourage the participation of these youths in making a family fire safety plans for the household such as checking fire detectors, escape plans and routes, and fire extinguishers.
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Do not encourage or permit direct fire play such as with campfires or burn barrels during the period of curiosity fire setting.
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Do not use household decorative materials such as candles burning during the period of curiosity fire setting.
· Know what is and is not in your house in the way of fire setting materials.
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Know who your child is playing with and their fire setting history.
FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTHS (13-18) WHO ARE CURIOUS ABOUT SETTING FIRES: