Babysitter's Guide

Babysitter's Fire Safety Guide

As the babysitter, you are responsible for the children in your care. Here are some important points you need to know if there's a fire emergency in the home where you babysit.

Before the parents leave

• Write down the complete address and phone number of the place where you are babysitting and phone numbers for:
  • Fire, Police, Ambulance & Emergency Services - often one number - 9-1-1.
  • Where the parents can be reached.
  • Neighbour(s).
• Keep this information in your pocket so that it's with you at all times and handy in case of an emergency.

Plan Your Escape

If there is a fire while you are in charge, you must know what to do:

• Is there a fire escape plan? If not, develop one.
• Identify all escape routes.
• Find at least two ways out of each room.
• Plan how you and the children will escape safely.
• Decide on an outside meeting place.
• Ask for a demonstration of the smoke alarm.

Guide to Fire Safety

The best way to keep fire safe is to be watchful of the children in your charge:

• Never leave children unsupervised.
• Check on sleeping children regularly.
• Keep matches and lighters out of their reach.
• Do not light candles while babysitting.
• Don't smoke on the job.
• Keep children away from the stove, hot liquids, electric lamps and space heaters.
• Keep space heaters at least 1 metre (40 inches) from drapes, furniture and bedding.
• Cook safely and only if you have permission.
• Turn pot handles in to avoid children knocking them over or pulling them down.
• Smother a pan fire with a lid. Never use water.
• Make sure you know what cooking materials can be used for the microwave.

Burn Prevention

• Always test hot foods and liquids before feeding.

Fire Safety: What to do, because fire spreads fast - don't delay!

• If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP & ROLL on the floor to smother the flames.
• Cool minor burns with cold water. If your skin is blistered, charred or dead white, get emergency help immediately.
• When you see flames, smell smoke or hear the smoke alarm, get everybody out of the house.
• Feel the door first. If it isn’t hot, open it very slowly.
• If there is fire or smoke use another exit.
• Crawl low under smoke - the air near the floor is safer to breathe.
• If you cannot escape, close the door and seal around it with cloth to prevent smoke from entering the room.
• Always use the stairs and never the elevators.
• Designate a meeting place a safe distance from the house and make sure everyone is there.
• Take the children to a neighbour.
• Phone the emergency number from the neighbour’s home.
• Give the complete address, describe the situation and inform the operator if anyone is still inside.
• Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.
• Do not go back to the house for any reason.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

FIRE: __________________________________
POLICE: __________________________________
AMBULANCE: __________________________________
PARENTS: __________________________________
NEIGHBOUR: __________________________________
THIS ADDRESS: __________________________________