When it comes to fire safety, planning can prevent tragedy

Did you know that working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by 50 percent? There are steps parents can take to help prevent and protect their families in the event of a house fire. Susan Helms, director of Safe Kids Mid-South and Injury Prevention at Le Bonheur, offers a few ways to talk to your kids about fire safety.

Teach your children how to respond to the sound of a smoke alarm. Tell them to get low and get out when they hear it. A child who is coached properly ahead of time will have a better chance to be safe. 

Visit the Fire Museum of Memphis or use its online teaching tools with your children.

Create and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways to get out of your house in case of a fire. Get a stopwatch, and time how fast your family can escape. Here’s a worksheet from Safe Kids to help get you started.

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, in each bedroom and outsides every sleeping area. Make sure you check your smoke alarms at least once a year; use Daylight Savings Time as a reminder to check them.