Handeling a fear of firefighters in young children

Select chapter, then a subtopic

Fire Safety

Understanding the Danger of fire

Fire Causes

The First Line of Defense

Being Prepared

If You see a Fire

Teaching Children Not to Play with Fire

If you catch Kids playing with Fire

Inside a Fire

The Importance of Time

Fire Crawl

If Trapped

Firefighters are Your Friends

Simple Fire Prevention Tips

Other Fire Prevention for your Home

First-Aid and Safety

Child Safety in the Home

Childproofing Your Home

Infant Safety/Baby Safety

Safety Out and About

Seasonal Safety Issues

Weather & Natural
Disasters

Internet Safety

Other Safety Issues

Statistical References
Other Resources

Firefighters are your friends!
It’s unfortunate, but children are often times killed because they hide from a firefighter. A fire is a scary ordeal as it is. Then when they see a firefighter dressed in what looks like a big space suit who is breathing like Darth Vader and carrying an axe around, they can get even more afraid.

·	Teach children that firefighters are their friends. Even though they may look scary, they are there to protect them. If they see a firefighter, they should crawl to them as fast as they can.

·	Show them a picture of a firefighter in full uniform, and talk about what they look like. Then explain that this person is just a normal person who wears a lot of equipment to keep themselves safe. (Free download of firefighter in uniform discussion picture.)

Go over what that equipment is and what it is used for. Explain that the axe helps them to break down doors and walls in a fire so they can get to people to help them. That the suit they wear helps keep them safe in a fire. That their helmet and oxygen tanks help keep them from breathing in all the smoke, and that is why they look and sound funny.