It is important for babysitters to know what to do and how to react in the event of a fire.
The checklist below has been provided to educate babysitters about how to handle an emergency situation. Use the list as a discussion tool with parents for whom you babysit.
Every household should have an escape plan. When you baby sit, discuss what to do in case of fire with the adults in the household.
Be familiar with their home. Learn all the exits and know how to unlock doors and windows. Know two ways out of each room, especially bedrooms.
All households should have a meeting place outside where everyone gathers after escaping a fire. Have the adults show you the meeting place and don't confuse children by changing the plan.
Discuss the escape plan and meeting place with the children. Make everyone knows where to meet.
Be sure you know the location of a neighbor who will be home. In case of fire, call the Fire Department from a neighbor's phone, portable phone or alarm box.
Never smoke while babysitting. If you find matches, lighters or other smoking materials, put them up high (preferably in a locked cabinet) where children can't see or reach them.
Keep children away from portable heaters and space heaters.
Cook only if you have permission from the adults in the household. Never leave cooking unattended. Set a timer to remind you to turn everything off.
Enforce a "kid-free zone" of at least three feet around the cooking area. Turn pot handles in (pointing toward the center of the stove) to prevent spilling of hot liquids.
Never put anything into a microwave unless you are absolutely sure it is safe. If you are unsure of how to use the microwave, do not use it.
Keep children away from the microwave. Test all foods before serving them to children.
Supervise children when they are awake and check on them often after they've gone to sleep — until you are sure they are sound asleep. Even then, make sure you can hear them when they wake up.
If you smell smoke, hear a smoke alarm or see flames, get everybody out. Don't wait for any reason.
If you encounter smoke while you are escaping a fire, use another exit route. If you must escape through smoke, remember that heat and smoke rise, so cleaner air is near the floor. Crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor. Make the children go first and follow close behind.
After exiting a fire, take the children with you to a neighbor's home and call the Fire Department from there. Give the Fire Department the complete address of the fire and stay on the phone until you're told to hang up. Then call the children's parents.
Watch children carefully while you're waiting for the Fire Department. Make sure no one goes back inside for any reason. Keep everyone a safe distance from the fire and out of the way of the firefighters.
If smoke or flames are blocking the way to the children's bedrooms, go straight to a neighbor's and call the Fire Department. Tell them that there are children trapped inside and where they are.
If your clothing catches on fire ... stop, drop and roll. Drop to the ground and cover your face with your hands. Roll over and over until the fire goes out. Babysitters may have to help children do this. Pull the child over to smother the flames. Cool the burn with water and call for help.