Babysitting Fire Safety Tips

Having a babysitter can give you peace of mind. It allows you to leave your child with someone you trust. Be sure your babysitter knows about fire safety. Be sure your babysitter knows what to do if there is a fire.

Show the babysitter your home escape plan and make sure the babysitter understands: •Two ways out of every room.

•Where the outdoor meeting place is located.

•The fire department or emergency phone number.

•How to unlock all doors and windows.

If you allow your babysitter to cook, make sure the babysitter: •Keeps your child at least 3 feet away from the stove.

•Keeps your child at least 3 feet away from the microwave oven.

•Never leaves the room while cooking.

•Keeps anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop.

•Keeps pets off surfaces and countertops.

If the smoke alarm sounds, make sure your babysitter knows to:

•Get out of the home quickly with your child to safety.

•Use the second way out if smoke is in the way.

•Get low and go under the smoke to the exit if an escape must be made through smoke.

Store matches and lighters out of your child’s reach.

Candles should not be used by your babysitter.

Make sure your babysitter keeps a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around space heaters.

Always leave the phone number where you can be reached. Cell phones make this easy. Be sure the babysitter knows the address of the home.