Sparky the Fire Dog turns 70
Did you know that Sparky the Fire Dog has been the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association for the last 70 years? In honour of this milestone birthday, here are seven important lessons about fire safety for kids that Sparky has taught during his many years of service.
- Smoke alarms save lives. Since this beeping device lets you know if there’s a fire, every home needs working smoke alarms on every floor and near each bedroom.
- Get outside, stay outside. If you hear a smoke alarm, you must immediately stop what you’re doing and find the safest and quickest way out of the house.
- Practise fire drills at home. Families should review where the exits are in each room and where the outside meeting place is at least twice a year.
- Report an emergency. If you see a fire, hear a smoke alarm or know that someone is seriously hurt, call 911. Be sure to tell them what and where the emergency is.
- Stay away from hot things. This can include bathwater, a stove, soup, matches, a fireplace and lighters. If you’re not sure if something is hot, check with a grown-up.
- Follow the one-metre rule. There should be a kid-free zone around stoves, space heaters and other hot devices. Anything that can burn should also be kept one metre away.
- Know when to stop, drop and roll. If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop to the ground (remember to cover your face with your hands) and roll over until the flames are out.
To learn more about fire safety and test your knowledge with fun games and activities, visit sparky.org.
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This year, Fire Prevention Week takes place from October 3 to 9. The theme for this year’s event is Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety, which aims to better educate the public about the sounds smoke alarms make, what those sounds mean and how to respond to them.
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