Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to fire. Everyone should hold a fire drill at least once a year.

Talk about the drill

Many children think that fires are scary, but that’s no reason to skip the fire drills. In fact, regular fire drills help children feel safer, as it means they know what to do if the alarm goes off. The best approach is to sit down with the whole family and talk about why fire drills are important, and what it means if the smoke alarm starts beeping. Turn the drill into a kind of game, and then children won’t find it too dramatic.

Make simple rules

It’s important that the adults show that they are confident about what to do if the alarm goes off. Make simple rules that are easy to remember and follow – even for young children.

Young children will need help to escape in the event of a fire. If there are several adults and children in your family, agree on who should take care of each child and, if necessary, where children should wait for an adult. Older children can learn how to get out on their own. It’s important for everyone in the family to assemble at a safe rendezvous point outside the home. This is a point where everyone should meet as quickly as possible in an emergency situation, so that everyone can be sure that everyone else got out.

Rescue – Alarm – Extinguish

If there’s a fire, the most important thing is to get everyone out of the building as quickly as possible. When everyone has assembled at a safe rendezvous point outside the home, alert the fire service on 1-1-0. You should also alert your neighbours. If it is safe to do so, adults can try to put out the fire with a domestic fire hose or fire extinguisher. Never put yourself in danger, and remember that smoke is extremely toxic.

Tips for fire drills:

• Before you start the drill, agree on a rendezvous point outside the home, somewhere that's easy for everyone to remember, e.g. beside the flagpole or the apple tree
• Make sure the escape routes are easily accessible, and that it's possible to open all the doors and windows easily from the inside
• Young children will need help from an adult to escape. If there are several adults and children in the home, the adults must agree on who should take care of each child
• Older children can learn how to get out on their own, and can also learn how to phone the emergency number 1-1-0

If the smoke alarm starts beeping, make sure that everyone in the house is alerted. Help each other throughout the drill. Do a head count to be sure that everyone has got out and is assembled at the agreed rendezvous point