Kids and Matches

7/23/2019 (Permalink)

Don't leave your matches laying around!

Children have a natural curiosity about fire and the ability to strike matches or start a lighter.

Matches, lighters and other heat sources are the leading causes of fire-related deaths for children under age five.

Parents and teachers should practice and teach fire-safe behaviors to children and educate them about the dangers of fire, matches and other ignition sources.

• In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. 
• In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.
• In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire.
• It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames.
• Heat is more threatening than flames.
• Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level.
• Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs and melt clothes to your skin.

Kids need to understand the consequences of playing with fire.