Kid’s Zone

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Why it matters

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that adults and kids cannot see or smell. They need to know that this alarm means they need fresh air immediately.

What to know

CO alarms sound distinctly different from smoke alarms (usually four beeps and a pause).

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  If an alarm beeps and grown-ups say “outside,” go outside together
• Don’t:
  Don’t ignore the beeps

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Know that a CO alarm means you need to get fresh air fast and stay with your adult
• Don’t
  Don’t wait to see if you feel sick or dizzy before going outside

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  If the CO alarm goes off, get everyone out immediately and call 911 from outside
• Don’t:
  Don’t open windows to “air it out” before you evacuate and call 911

Home Fire Drills & Escape Plans

Why it matters

A fire can feel scary, but having a practiced plan builds muscle memory so kids know exactly what to do without panicking

What to know

Families should draw a map of the home, find two ways out of every room, pick an outside meeting place, and practice the drill together twice a year

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Practice getting outside to your family meeting place (like a mailbox, street light, or neighbor’s driveway)
• Don’t:
  Don’t wander away from the meeting place. Stay with your grown-up

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Learn two ways out of your room and practice escaping in under two minutes
• Don’t
  Don’t go back inside for any reason once you are out

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Learn the family plan so you can lead younger siblings or guests to safety
• Don’t:
  Don’t re-enter a burning house for people, pets, or belongings. Tell the firefighters who is missing

Close Before You Doze

Why it matters

A closed bedroom door can block toxic smoke, heat, and flames, buying kids critical time to wait for rescue or escape

What to know

Closing doors should be part of every nightly bedtime routine

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Help your grown-up close your bedroom door before you go to sleep
• Don’t:
  Don’t leave your door wide open at night

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Make “closing the door” part of your nighttime safety routine
• Don’t
  Open a door if it feels hot when you feel it with the back of your hand. If it is hot, leave the door closed and use your second way out.

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Close your door at night and make sure your room’s smoke alarm is working
• Don’t:
  Don’t think a closed door replaces the need for a working smoke alarm. You need both

Cooking Safety

The “Kid-Free-Zone”

Why it matters

Hot liquids, grease, and hot stoves are the leading cause of severe burns for children.

What to know

The kitchen needs strict boundaries, especially when high-heat cooking is happening.

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Take three big steps back from the stove or oven
• Don’t:
  Don’t touch pots, pans, or the stove door

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Stay out of the 3-foot “kid-free zone” around the stove when adults are cooking
• Don’t
  Don’t run, play, or throw toys in the kitchen

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  If you are cooking on the stove, stay in the kitchen
• Don’t:
  Don’t walk away from high heat, and never try to put water on a cooking fire (use a lid and turn off the heat instead)

Battery & Charging Safety

Lithium-Ion

Why it matters

Tablets, phones, toys, and scooters use powerful batteries that can overheat and start fast-moving fires if they are damaged or charged unsafely

What to know

Devices should never be charged on soft surfaces that trap heat or left in high heat or very cold (temperatures we wouldn’t like to be in, either)

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Let grown-ups plug in chargers and cords
• Don’t:
  Don’t put tablets or phones on your bed or under your pillow

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Tell a grown-up right away if a device or toy feels very hot, smells strange, or looks puffy
• Don’t
  Don’t sleep with a charging device next to you

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Use only the correct, approved charger and charge your phone on a hard, flat surface (like a desk)
• Don’t:
  Don’t charge an e-bike or electric scooter in your bedroom or in a hallway where it could block your escape route

Heating, Electronics & Open-Flames

Why it matters

Space heaters, overloaded outlets, and candles are major fire risks that kids often interact with in their bedrooms or play areas

What to know

Anything that can burn must be kept 3 feet away from heat sources

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Tell an adult if you see a broken cord
• Don’t:
  Don’t touch space heaters, electrical cords, or candles. They are “no-touch”

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Keep your blankets, stuffed animals, and clothes at least 3 feet away from space heaters
• Don’t
  Don’t plug too many things into one outlet

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Turn off space heaters before leaving the room or going to sleep
• Don’t:
  Don’t light candles in your bedroom, and don’t run electrical cords under rug

Youth Fire Misuse

Matches, Lighters & Fireworks

Why it matters

Curiosity about fire is natural, but even a small experiment with matches or lighters can quickly turn into a deadly home fire

What to know

Fire is a tool for adults, never a toy for children

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Walk away and tell a grown-up if you see matches and lighters.

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Stay away from tools that could start a fire and tell a grown-up.
• Don’t
  Don’t hide or play with fire-starting tools

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Talk to a trusted adult if you have questions or are curious about fire or fireworks
• Don’t:
  Don’t experiment with lighters, fireworks, or dangerous internet “challenges” involving fire

Severe Weather

Why it matters

Severe weather moves fast. Kids need to know their safe places so they don’t freeze in fear during a storm

What to know

Every family needs a safe room for tornadoes and a clear rule about lightning and floodwater

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Go to the safe room immediately when a grown-up says it is time
• Don’t
  Don’t go near windows when the wind is blowing hard

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Remember the rule: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Know where your tornado safe place is (like a basement)
• Don’t
  Don’t play in or near floodwater

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Help get younger siblings and pets inside during storms, and check your phone for official weather alerts
• Don’t:
  Don’t ever drive or walk into flooded streets. Turn around, don’t drown

Campfires, Fire Pits, & Grilling Safety

Why it matters

Kids can easily trip and fall into fire pits, or get burned by touching a hot grill that they thought was turned off

What to know

Outdoor fires require a strict “fire circle” boundary to protect kids and pets

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Walk away and tell a grown-up if you see matches and lighters.
• Don’t
  Don’t touch the grill, even if it looks like it is turned off

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Stay out of the “fire circle” (3 feet away from the fire pit)
• Don’t
  Don’t throw sticks, leaves, trash, or anything else into a campfire

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Help adults make sure campfires are completely out (drowned, stirred, and cool to the touch) before leaving the area
• Don’t:
  Don’t leave an outdoor fire or lit grill unattended, even for a minute

Pet Safety in Emergencies

Why it matters

Children love their pets and often try to hide with them or rescue them, putting their own lives in extreme danger.

What to know

Kids must understand that human life comes first, and firefighters are trained to rescue animals.

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Keep your pets away from hot things like heaters and candles
• Don’t
  In a fire, go outside and let firefighters help pets.

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Go outside immediately and tell the firefighters exactly where your pet might be hiding
• Don’t
  Don’t try to find your cat or dog when the fire alarm goes off. Tell firefighters if your pet is still inside.

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Help keep pet leashes and carriers near the exit so they are easy to grab on the way out
• Don’t:
  Don’t ever re-enter a burning house to rescue an animal

Fire Extinguishers

Why it matters

Kids should focus 100% on escaping, not fighting fires

What to know

Fire extinguishers are tools strictly for adults who know how to use them

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  If the smoke alarm sounds, everyone should get outside. Stay outside until a grown-up says it is safe to go back inside.
• Don’t
  Don’t touch or play with fire extinguishers. They are tools for adults.

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Tell an adult immediately if you see a small fire starting
• Don’t
  Don’t try to use a fire extinguisher or put out a fire yourself

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Call 911 from outside. Your primary job is evacuation
• Don’t:
  Don’t try to fight a fire unless you are explicitly trained, the fire is small, and you have a clear, safe exit directly behind you

How & When t0 Call 911

Why it matters

Kids can save lives by calling 911, but they need to know exactly what to say to get help fast

What to know

Dispatchers need the address first. Kids should memorize their home address as early as possible

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Find a grown-up immediately if someone is hurt or there is danger
• Don’t
  Don’t play with phones or call 911 as a joke

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Memorize your street address so you can tell the 911 dispatcher exactly where to send the firetruck
• Don’t
  If there is a fire, get outside quickly to your outside meeting place.

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Call 911 from a safe place outside and clearly state your address, phone number, and the emergency. If you don’t have a phone, ask a trusted neighbor.
• Don’t:
  Don’t hang up the phone until the 911 dispatcher tells you to

Safety Plans that Fit You

Disability & Access Needs

Why it matters

Kids with different sensory, mobility, or medical needs must know how their specific plan works so they feel confident, not scared

What to know

Escape plans should be tailored to the child’s real-world abilities, using accessible alerting devices (like flashing lights or bed shakers) if needed

Pre-K (Ages 3 to 5)

• Do this now:
  Practice your special escape plan with your grown-up
• Don’t
  Don’t be afraid of the flashing lights or vibrating alarms; they mean it’s time to go outside

Elementary (Kindergarten to 5th Grade)

• Do this now:
  Know who your designated “helper” or buddy is during a fire drill
• Don’t
  Don’t leave your necessary mobility or medical equipment behind if your grown-up says it is part of your escape plan

Teens (Middle and High School)

• Do this now:
  Know how to check your specialized alarm devices (like bed shakers), and know your exact role if you are the buddy/helper for someone else
• Don’t:
  Don’t assume you can’t get out. Practice the plan so you know exactly how you will safely escape