Not everyone has experienced the immobilizing fear that comes from waking up in the middle of the night and realizing your home is on fire. This is a nightmare that every home owner dreads coming true and all too often it does. What can make it even worse is when there are children in the home that you may not be able to get to if the fire is already raging out of control. This can cause a parent to panic in a heart beat knowing their children might be trapped and they can not get to them.

This exact scenario is the reason why that teaching your children what to do in the event of fire in the home or anywhere else for that matter. They need to know the fastest and safest way to make their escape when an adult can not help them. If they are on their own, their very life might depend on what you have taught them about escaping a fire beforehand.

When a child awakes and realizes their home is on fire, they need to know how to escape out their own bedroom window if necessary. They should have a collapsible escape ladder in their room and know how to attach it to the window sill in order to climb don safely if necessary. This one feature can be enough to save their life if they have it and know how to use it. Children are usually more level headed than we give them credit for and often they will respond to a crisis situation better than an adult faced with the same situation.

If they can not get out of their bedroom door, they should know to never open it if feels hot because the fire could be just outside. If the door is not hot, they can crack it enough to yell for help or to let you know they are alright. They should wait for you if possible, but if they can see a clear exit path, they should go ahead and get themselves out as quickly and carefully as they can. They also need to know that once they have gotten out of the house to never go back inside for anything, not even you or a pet.

They should go immediately to a neighbor and call 911 if they are not already on the way. They need to know to stay well away from the house and stay in a designated spot where family members are to meet in the vent of a home fire such as across the street or under a tree. This way when all family members have gotten out, parents will know there is no one left inside.