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Fire safety, older children and teenagers

Older children and teenagers will begin to have access to matches and lighters beyond your control.

Make sure they remember lessons on fire safety and stay safe into adulthood.

Quick links on this page:

Responsible children become responsible adults
Alcohol and tobacco
Hoax calls and fire setting

Responsible children become responsible adults

As children get older, curiosity about fire often grows. Added to this, opportunities to access materials that can start fires will eventually move beyond your control.

Everyone needs to develop a responsible attitude to fire:

• continue to teach your children and young people about fire safety
• why not give them responsibility for checking smoke alarms and other fire safety routines?
• if you have one, teach them how to use and maintain a domestic fire safely?
• if you enjoy the outdoors, teach them how to use barbecues and camp fires safely

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Alcohol and tobacco

At some point, your young person will probably try alcohol. If they smoke too, there's a risk they could start a fire. A majority of fatal house fires in Scotland involve alcohol.

• make sure your young person understands the fire risks of smoking
• if they must smoke, encourage them to do it outside, never on the sofa or in an armchair
  

 

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Hoax calls and fire setting

Time and resources spent by Fire and Rescue services in dealing with deliberate fires and answering hoax calls puts lives at risk.

• teach them that fire setting and hoax calls cost lives
• encourage them to report anyone they think is setting fires or making hoax calls
• impress upon them that hoax calls can be traced easily - they could get into lots of trouble
• sometimes kids just want to see fire crews in action. Contact your local fire station to find out about open days, public displays and whether group visits can be arranged

> read more on hoax calls and fire setting

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