By Tom Kiurski
Many fires are caused simply by a combination of a small child’s curiosity and the availability of matches or a lighter. Some lighters on the market today, called novelty lighters, are visually appealing to children. They are functional pens, rolling cars, and small tools. Don’t let the parents in your city be fooled by these items, which are appealing directly to their children. The resulting fires have some of the most disastrous consequences because of a child’s inability to understand that the match they had just lit is what caused the fire that destroyed their house.
Suggest to your adult audience that if they have small children in the home, they should keep matches and lighters up high and out of the reach of kids. The importance of this came to me when I asked my son, then in third grade, if he could get matches from school. Without hesitation, he responded that he could–in third grade! Although the matches/lighters will be brought out to light those “friendly fires” in the home, urge parents to talk to their children about how matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Let them know that when they get older, they will be taught the proper way to use matches and lighters to start friendly fires. Many children see the nice candles and birthday cakes adorned with fire that provide fun for family gatherings. They need to know that although they can be helpers around matches and lighters, they will learn how to use them correctly only when they are older. For now, let children take part in ensuring fire safety by making sure no combustibles are near the intended fire area, or let them blow out the matches or candles when finished, explaining the importance of fire safety all the time.
Children must also know the proper action to take when they see their friends with matches or lighters, or when they find matches or lighters within their reach. They should get away from them and tell an adult. As adults, we must be sure to praise the child for taking proper actions when confronted with these situations, and emphasize that they will be taught how to use them when they are old enough.
During your next speaking engagements to adult audiences, be sure to include how important it is to keep matches and lighters away from children. Parents will be glad you did.
Tom Kiurski is a lieutenant, a paramedic, and the director of fire safety education for Livonia (MI) Fire & Rescue. His book, Creating a Fire-Safe Community: A Guide for Fire Safety Educators (Fire Engineering, 1999), is a guide for bringing the safety message to all segments of the community efficiently and economically.
