Fire safety

Child care providers need to keep an eye on safety. More kids to watch means additional opportunities for unsafe behaviors or actions. Here are a few safety considerations for providers:

Fire Protection Regulations: Evacuation drills must be held monthly and a written evacuation plan for each shift must be kept on file and readily available for parents’ review or posted in a conspicuous place in the home. All means of egress must be clear of obstructions, and there should be two ways to exit, remote from each other, on all floors occupied by children. Windows used for egress must be at least 24 inches wide.

Operable smoke detectors and carbon monoxide meters should be located on each floor of the home and outside the area where children sleep. Electric smoke detectors should have a battery backup. Providers should know how to use fire extinguishers and are required to locate “ABC”-rated extinguishers, in working order, in the kitchen and outside the furnace room.

If you have questions, you can contact the UFT Family Child Care Department at (212) 598-9288.

How to Operate a Fire Extinguisher – the P.A.S.S Technique

Most fire extinguishers operate using the following P.A.S.S. technique:

• P is for Pull the extinguisher’s safety pin;
• A is for Aim the extinguisher at the source of the flames;
• S is for Squeeze the trigger and hold it; and
• S is for Sweep the source of the flames until the fire is extinguished.

If the fire re-ignites, repeat steps 2 through 4. If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight the fire, evacuate immediately.