What Every Mom Should Know In Case of a Fire (How to Deal with It)

Fires can be very scary when you have kids to worry about. Here is what you should know if a fire ever happens to stay safe.

When it comes to protecting children from fire, its never too soon to be prepared. There are some very important steps that you can take to preemptively make safety a priority for your family in case of a fire.

A must read for mothers. Here are some fire safety tips and what to do in case of a fire if you have small children. A great read before an emergency happens.

I was a tween and I was scared.

I was so scared that every single time I went to sleep, I had to check the fire alarm batteries in our home growing up.

Every night I’d stand in the hallway while brushing my teeth and stare at the red light that indicated the batteries were good. Occasionally, I’d imagine it was blinking and ask my mom for a second opinion.

Furthermore, when we burned something in the oven and the alarm would go off, I didn’t feel annoyed. In fact, I felt relief. It meant even a little smoke in the kitchen would set it off.

This fear started when I saw a made for TV movie about betrayal and fire. The phase lasted a few years and, thankfully, didn’t continue. Because of it, I’ve always been aware of the dangers of fire.

Then I became a mom… and therefore obsessed with my children’s safety…

What's in this post...

What every mom needs to know in the event of a fire at home

While fires are not commonplace, they are not rare either.

I hope knowing this information will give you peace of mind as to how you’d respond in the unlikely event of a fire in your home.

Planning in case of a fire

Identify all possible exits

You are probably pretty well aware of the exits in your home. However, it’s amazing how much we zone out the doors we rarely use. Before you create a plan, think clearly about the pathways in your home and the best ways to get out.

Your children may not even call certain doors “exits” if they are not normally used, so scope everything out before creating a plan.

Create a plan

As I asked you to do in case of a home invasion, creating a plan is key.

Creating a plan is especially true if you have a few small children who are unable to adhere to a plan on their own. Furthermore, relying on older children and exit strategies is essential for a good plan.

Locate the best exits and teach children which exit to use.
Designate a meeting place outside (far enough away from the house).
Emphasis the importance of staying at the meeting place until an adult arrives.

For more information on creating plan, read Safety Information- Escape and Planning.

If you live in a two story house or apartment building, keep reading for tips on escaping these types of buildings.

Assign children to an adult (buddy system)

If you have elderly people in your home or small children who will not be able to escape alone, create a buddy system of sorts.

Mom, dad, and older siblings can be paired up with younger ones to facilitate escape. Be sure each person knows who they are responsible for. Practice “escaping” the house using the buddy system you implement.

Also, you may want to practice carrying a few kids at once because that’s always a possibility in emergency situations. It’s good planning to practice for the worse case scenario, but also teach older children/adults how to be helpful in case of a fire.

Teach stop, drop, and roll

If your clothes catch on fire, the way to smother it is by stopping, dropping, and rolling on the ground.

Consider this, we’ve likely heard this numerous times from school training, but our smaller children may not have.

It’s a good idea to practice this with the kids and let them know if they are unable to do it by themselves, you will be attempting to do it for them in the event of a fire.

What to do in the event of a fire

React quickly

If in doubt, get out. Don’t dilly dally and wonder if it’s a false alarm. If it is, it’ll be a nice fire drill for the whole family. Remain as calm as possible and act quickly.

Stick to the plan you created for the family and instruct your kids to do the same. You created a plan, let it work.

Don’t attempt to go from room to room gathering valuables. Immediately call for your children or go grab the ones you’re responsible for and head out.

If one of the exit doors is closed and there is smoke behind it, try the other exit.

You may have to attempt to exit through a room that is smoke-filled, but try to find an alternate exit first.

Stay low

Staying low helps protect you from smoke inhalation (source). Get down on your hands and knees if you have to go through a smoky area.

Even though running or standing up straight will be quicker, smoke inhalation can cause you to become disoriented which will inevitably make it harder to escape.

Your best bet is to get low and stay low. If you are going through a heavy smoke filled area, cover your mouth with your hand or clothing item.

Do not hide

Hiding is not recommended because it will prevent your family members or fire department personnel from finding you. Teach your children that if they get trapped in a house fire, it’s best to remain as visible as possible.

If you find yourself stuck and can’t get out through your escape route, you can attempt to ward off smoke until help arrives.

Close the door and use any clothing, blankets, tape or whatever you have on hand to cover the cracks and vents. The longer you can keep the smoke out the better.

Second story tips

If you are trapped on the second floor, go to a window, preferably one where you can be seen or heard by others, and throw something out of it. You can yell or scream for help, but by waving something outside you are signaling you are in danger and alerting the fire department to your location. After you’ve hung something out the window, close it. Fresh air draws the fire towards the oxygen (source).
It’s a risky move to attempt to escape by climbing out onto the roof. In addition to the heat of the building, you’ll have to worry about balance and maintaining calm with the smoke. The safest best is to ward off the smoke and wait for help.
If your children’s rooms are on the second story, consider purchasing fire escape ladders that can be stored underneath beds or in closets. Older children can help you purchase these and practice using them. If you only have one stairwell having an escape ladder is a must.

Basic fire tips

Before opening a door, check around the cracks to see if there’s smoke on the other side. If there is, don’t open it.
If you don’t see smoke, check and see if the door or door handle is very hot (use back of hand). Don’t open it. (source)
If you open a door and feel a burst of heat or smoke, close it as quickly as you can and try to ward off the smoke coming in by covering the cracks.
Stay low. Smoke rises so staying as low as you can will help prevent you from inhaling as much smoke. If you have a baby or smaller toddler, you’ll have to figure out how to crawl holding them. This is something you can practice at any time during the day without alarming them.
Choose an outdoor location to meet up after escaping the fire. This way you will know who is still inside.
Teach older children how to open/close windows or take out screens in case they need to escape.
If you are forced to remain and wait for help, then put a cloth over your face (and your little ones). This works best by wetting it first (source).

Here are some tips for preventing a house fire

Preventative measures are recommending when it comes motherhood and house fires.

I believe that you can never be to sure or to safe when it has to do with your children and your home.

Make sure each of these things are checked regurally

Installing smoke alarms generously throughout your home on every level.
Be sure all windows and doors are in working order.
Have home insurance in place so you aren’t tempted to run around the house gathering precious things.
Keep lighters and matches out of reach of kids.
Test smoke alarms regularly.

Talk to your children about the dangers of fire, have a plan in place, and make sure your smoke detectors are working properly.

This will go a long way in the unlikely event of a fire in your home.

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This site is for informational purposes only. While I’ve worked hard to provide you with correct information, readers are using the information on this site at their own risk. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. A Mother Far from Home will not compensate you in any way whatsoever if you ever happen to suffer a loss/inconvenience/damage because of/while making use of information in this blog. Please seek professional advice.

What Every Mom Should Know In Case of a Fire