Last week, I shared tips from a deputy sheriff to help first responders keep your family member safe in emergencies. This week, I’m going to share what a fire chief and fire prevention officer shared at the meeting.
The first thing they both said was to have working smoke detectors in your home. Sounds obvious, right? But do you have them in the right places? Do you change the batteries twice a year? You need a smoke detector on every level of your home – especially near the bedrooms so they will wake you up at night. Change the batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall – or on certain holidays, like July 4th and Christmas if you don’t have to change your clocks.
The fire prevention officer shared that studies have been done that children will react to their mother’s voice faster than the beeping of a smoke detector. There are smoke detectors available that you can record a message on, such as “Go outside” or whatever you think your child will respond to. I had no idea there were so many different types of smoke detectors – ones that only flash lights, ones that talk, ones for deaf people. Only you know what your child might listen to, so do some research and find one that is best for your family.
I’ll admit – I have told my kids from the time they were little to run to the garage (our garage is detached) if they hear the smoke detector beeping. They hear it, but they ignore it, so I have very little hope that they would leave the house if they hear it in the middle of the night. But, I also never thought I’d be able to get both of them awake and to the basement in case of a bad storm and they proved me wrong, so ….. maybe they will leave!
Decide on a plan to escape from every room in your home – preferably two ways. Share these plans with your kids and practice them. They may not know why you are doing it, but we all know that when you practice something often, your body tends to take over in a panic. I am sure Casey won’t go out her window, unless I am there to encourage her. She is scared of heights. Rob might go, as his room is on ground floor. Neither would think to check doors for heat before opening it. I’ll be honest – fire is my biggest fear. Rob’s room is right beside mine, so my plan is to get him up and moving before I get Casey. Of course, I’ll be yelling her name the whole time, hoping she’ll come to me. Is it a great plan? Probably not, but it’s all I can come up with. If I can get Rob moving, I’m sure he would go to the garage by himself.
Also – remind your children over and over and over again, once they are out of the house, do not go back in – for anything! Not pets, not you. The firemen will go in and get pets once they get there. Children tend to be very emotional and when they are scared, they may try to run to where they feel safe – even if it is back into danger. Especially people with autism – they thrive on routines to keep them safe. Tell them. Make them repeat it.
Fire prevention is the key. Lock away matches and lighters. Never overload extension cords. (As a side note, they recommended throwing away the cheap dollar cords. People tend to see three outlets in the cord and use them all, not thinking that they are being overloaded.) Clean the dryer vent. Be aware of where you use candles. Keep things away from the stove and furnace.
As for a car accident, they both stressed that using seat belt covers would be a great idea. These can be purchased on several websites or you can make your own. Last week’s post shared more about them.
They also mentioned sharing information with the 911 system about your home. One thing you really need to share is if you have to have heavy locks (or several locks!) on your doors and windows to keep your child safe at home. If they know this, they will be ready to break down your door when they get to your home and save a few minutes. Every second counts in a fire.
You can try putting stickers on your doors to make first responders aware of a person with autism in the home, but like stickers on cars, they may not be noticed right away. If you do choose to do this, make sure the stickers are large and brightly colored. Make sure your neighbors know about your child’s autism – they can be a great resource if you aren’t able to get out and the fire department needs to look for all of you.
Our fire department has a “smoke house” that they use to show children what it might be like to wake up in a room filled with smoke. They are also very open to bringing people with autism to the fire station and letting them see firemen with all of their gear on. They look scary and loud – seeing them before an emergency will help your child understand they are just men that are there to help. Call your fire department and ask if this is something they would allow.
There is no way to know how your child will react in an emergency. They may surprise you and follow your plans exactly or they may hide. The more you share with your local first responders, the better it is for your entire family. Be honest and keep the lines of communication open between you and your first responders. Ask what they have available that might help you explain fire safety to your child. You never know until you ask and in my experience, first responders want to be very involved in all parts of the community.