Child alone at home. Children's mischief with fire
The safety of a child is a key element in their upbringing. At some point, every parent faces the question of at what age a child can be left home alone. It can be unequivocally stated that preschool children should be under adult supervision.
Children, especially those under 7 years old, show a direct interest in the objects around them, particularly electrical appliances, video equipment, etc. They do not realize what they can touch and what is dangerous for their lives, what they can play with and what they cannot. Most often, children get injured due to their curiosity, mobility, excessive self-confidence, lack of life experience, and emotional instability.
The child goes to school. They begin to be taught independence. After all, not everyone has grandparents or older siblings. Consequently, parents are often forced to leave the child home alone for a while. This does not mean that they are not at risk. Remove sharp and cutting objects that the child could injure themselves with, and keep matches and lighters, medicines, and household chemicals in places inaccessible to children.
Children start to understand numbers much earlier than letters, so explain to the child where to turn in case of danger. Write down the four main emergency numbers: fire service, ambulance, police, and gas service. To make it easier for the child to understand, draw a picture next to each number (for example – next to the phone number 101 - a burning match). Write down and keep visible the phone numbers of neighbors, friends, and your work phone numbers, so that in case of danger the child can contact them.
When leaving home even for a short time, close the windows, balcony, turn off the water, gas, and electric heating appliances. If you expect to return after dark, turn on the lights in all rooms where the child might play. When closing the door, remind the child not to open the door to strangers. The child will better grasp the rules if you simulate possible dangerous situations in the form of a game and involve family members and their friends in it.
In 2020, 1 child died in fires in the republic, and in the current year – 4. Each statistic figure represents a tragedy and a lost childhood.
The cause of the fire is a child's play with fire, a term used by rescuers. However, the culprits of the tragedies are still the adults who, by leaving matches and other flammable materials in accessible places, provoke the child to dangerous games with fire. The outcome of such "fun" is always predictable and tragic. Undoubtedly, this most often occurs in families raising minor children and are in socially dangerous situations, families where parents abuse alcoholic beverages.
Often, parents leave for work in the morning and return late, while the child is home alone. A working electric heater, an old television, a poorly repaired electric stove, and worn-out wiring are just a small list of dangers in the home. But even these factors are enough for a disaster to occur sooner or later. One can argue for a long time and assert that no matter how bad the parents are, it is better for children to be at home. However, specific examples of child fatalities show that simple agitation and persuasion are not enough – more serious measures must be taken.
And it is precisely the removal of children from such parents, placing them in shelters that gives children a chance at life. And their irresponsible parents time to reflect.
Fire spares no one. Even in ordinary, well-off families, tragedies occur. Each specific case is a sorrow and pain. A pain that can never be healed...
Therefore:
- keep matches and lighters in places inaccessible to children
- do not allow children to use gas and electrical appliances independently, or to heat stoves
- explain to the child that in case of fire they must run outside and never hide
- without scaring the child, explain safety rules and "act out" various situations
- memorize your home address and phone number with the child, so that if necessary they can contact the rescue service themselves
- next to the phone, write down the emergency service numbers on a piece of paper, and explain to the child under what circumstances they can be used
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