Studies have shown that children are often able to sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm, making it that much more important for families to plan and practice an escape plan at night. While there are several theories as to why kids sleep through an alarm that often easily wakes an adult, researchers have found that families should expect to need to wake sleeping children when a smoke alarm sounds.
Consider the following when making a plan:
- Before going to bed, adults should know where everyone in the household is sleeping.
- Assign an adult to each child sleeping in the home in the event an alarm sounds.
- Sleeping with bedroom doors closed can create a barrier to smoke and fire spread, allowing for necessary and valuable time to wake all family members and help them escape.
Home Safety Checklist (English and Spanish)
Guide to Home Escape Planning: English Spanish
College Student Fire Safety
