Privacy Policy
This privacy policy governs your use of the Operation EDITH Fire Safety app (“Application”) for mobile devices that was created by IIANC and Horizon Productions as well as the Operation EDITH website ("Website").
Both the Application and the Website let kids join EDITH the Fire Dog in interactive games and activities that teach children about the importance of fire safety and having an Exit Drill In The Home.
We don’t collect any personal data with our Application or Our Website.
If you submit a support request via e-mail, we may receive your email address and other information you provide related to your support request. We use this information only to provide support to you. We don’t share your email address unless we have your express consent.
When using the Application, we don’t require you to provide any information and we don’t collect, share or use any information about you or your device.
Other specifics for the Application include:
- Our kids app doesn't use or collect a user’s precise geographic location.
- Our kids app doesn't contain any advertising or collect any ad data.
- Our kids app may contain external links to our websites.
If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us.
Press Release
Independent Insurance Agents Urge Families to Plan and Practice a Home Exit Drill
Raleigh, NC - Children age five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Statistics show that for children ages 1-4, fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional injury. Why? Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flames. Fear often causes children to hide in a closet or under a bed in the mistaken belief that they are safe from fire.
Fear also causes many children to escape to safety without telling anyone about the fire. They may fear blame, so they do not alert an adult to the fire. Other children left in the home often die or are injured.
We can help protect our young children through a two-fold process of insuring there is a working smoke detector in every home, and by encouraging parents to conduct an Exit Drill in the home with their families.
That is the goal of Operation EDITH, a public service campaign of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC). Operation EDITH, whose letters stand for Exit Drill In The Home has been around for many years as a way to educate parents that practicing a home exit drill and having a working smoke detector can save lives.
The chances of dying in a home fire are cut in half when there is a working smoke detector and are reduced even further if every member of the household knows what to do when it sounds. Smoke detectors can give parents up to three minutes to save themselves and their children from the effects of smoke and the devastation of a home fire.
The three minute grace period does not allow for indecision or lack of preparedness. Without a planned escape route that has been practiced by the whole family, the successful escape of all family members is at risk. Precious escape time is often spent trying to find children who have panicked and hidden.
During Fire Prevention Week, October 3-9, 2021, independent insurance agents will distribue informational coloring books and stickers to area schools and day care centers. Volunteers will spend time with these children talking about smoke detectors and exit drills.
Operation EDITH will focus on three messages:
• Have a working smoke detector
• Practice a home exit drill
• Get Low and Go - Stay under the dangerous smoke and get out of the house!
Young children learn by mimicking and repeating things. The home exit drill is one of the best ways to teach young children the skills that may save their life.
How to Plan a Home Exit Drill
1. Replace the batteries in all smoke detectors.
2. Talk with your family about what they should do when they hear the alarm.
3. Plan two exits from each room. Make sure children and adults can easily unlock doors and windows. If you must escape from a second-story window, make sure there is a safe way to reach the ground.
4. Decide on a family meeting spot outside the home. If everyone knows where to meet, you will know that everyone is safely out of the house.
5. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to call the fire department from a neigh-bor's house.
Practice Your Plan
Once you have planned your exit drill, practice it. Test your smoke detector and have everyone Get Low & Go! Practice crawling low down hallways to stay below the dangerous smoke. Once everyone is out of the house and at your family meeting spot, make sure to rein-force to children that they are never to return to a burning building.
Reminder
Change batteries in your smoke detectors and practice a home exit drill twice a year!
Radio Public Service Announcement
Would your child know what to do if your smoke detector sounded in the middle of the night? Young children are at the greatest risk of dying in house fires because they often try to hide from smoke and flames under a bed or in a closet.
The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina and Trusted Choice are urging families with young children to join Operation EDITH. On Wednesday, October 6th, at 6:00 PM, plan and practice an Exit Drill in the Home - It could save your child's life. For more information about Operation EDITH, see your local independent insurance agent or visit www.iianc.com.
Songs for Kids
Lyrics written by the employees of Senn Dunn Insurance, Greensboro, NC.
Tune: Do Your Ears Hang Low?
Can you get low and go?
Don’t stand on your tippy-toes.
Can you tell your mom & dad...can you tell your sis & bro?
If you think you smell smoke, don’t ya be a slowpoke.
Can you get low and go?
Tune: Itsy-Bitsy Spider
What happens if a fire starts in an EDITH house?
Do you go and hide, or do you run out?
Show your mom and dad that you know the way.
Tell ‘em not to go in that smoky house again.
Tune: Wheels on the Bus
The smoke detectors go...
Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
The smoke detectors go...
Beep, beep, beep... get out of the house (scream!)
The parents in the house go...
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
The parents in the house go...
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH... get out of house (scream)!
All the kids in house go...
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
All the kids in house go...
Crawl, crawl, crawl... get out of house (scream)!
Red fire engines go...
Toot, Toot, Toot
Toot, Toot, Toot
Toot, Toot, Toot
Red fire engines go...
Toot, Toot, Toot... And we all SAVED THE DAY! (scream)!
Talking Points
The Problem
• Children age five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Statistics show that for children ages 1-4, fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional injury.
• Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flames. Fear often causes children to hide in a closet or under a bed in the mistaken belief that they are safe from the fire.
• Fear may also prevent children from telling adults about a fire because they fear punishment.
What can be done to protect young children?
Two important steps:
1. Have a working smoke detector in the home; and
2. Practice a home Exit Drill with children.
Facts
• The chances of dying in a home fire are cut in half when there is a working smoke detector and reduced even further if everyone in the home knows what to do when it sounds.
• A home can be overtaken by smoke and flames in just three minutes.
• The warning from a smoke detector can give parents up to three minutes to save themselves and their children ... but ...
• Three minutes does not allow for indecision or a lack of preparedness.
• Without a planned escape route that has been practiced by the whole family, the successful escape of all family members is at risk.
What You Can Do
• Wednesday, October 6th, at 6:00 pm, plan and practice a home Exit Drill.
• Young children learn by mimicking and repeating things. The home Exit Drill is a way to teach young children life-saving fire safety habits.
Develop a Home Exit Plan
• Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Then sit down with your family and talk about what they should do when they hear the alarm.
• Every person should know two exits from each room. Make sure children and adults can easily unlock doors and windows. If you must escape from a second-story window, make sure there is a safe way to reach the ground.
• Decide on a family meeting spot outside the home. If everyone knows where to meet, you will know that everyone is safely out of the house.
• Make sure everyone in the family knows how to call the fire department and stress that everyone needs to get out of the house first, then call the fire department from a neighbor’s house.
Practice Your Plan
• Once you have planned your Exit Drill, practice it.
• Test your smoke detector and have everyone Get Low & Go! Practice crawling low down hallways to stay below the dangerous smoke.
• Once everyone is out of the house and at your family meeting spot, make sure to reinforce to children that they are never to return to a burning building.
Speech for Civic or Parent Groups
The Numbers
Children ages five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Statistics show that for children ages 1-4, fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional injury. Why? Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flames. Fear often causes children to hide in a closet or under a bed in the mistaken belief that they are safe from the fire.
Fear also causes many children to escape to safety without telling anyone about the fire. They may fear blame, so they do not alert an adult to the fire. Other children left in the home often die or are injured.
How do we protect our young children?
Through a two-fold process of insuring there is a working smoke detector in every home and by encouraging parents to conduct an Exit Drill In The Home with their families.
I am________________________ with _____________________________. I am working with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, also known as IIANC, or simply the Big "I." The Big "I" is a professional trade association made up of the owners and employees of nearly 1,000 independent agencies across North Carolina. Again this year, the association is conducting a Public Service Campaign known as Operation EDITH.
Some of you may have heard of Operation EDITH, whose letters stand for Exit Drill In The Home. EDITH has been around for many years, in cities and states all over the country, trying to convince parents that practicing a home Exit Drill and having a working smoke detector can save lives.
The chances of dying in a home fire are cut in half when there is a working smoke detector and reduced even further if every member of the household knows what to do when it sounds. What many parents do not realize is how quickly a home can be overcome by fire and the life-threatening ways that young children respond to fire, smoke and alarms.
Smoke detectors can give parents up to three minutes to save themselves and their children from the effects of smoke and the devastation of a home fire. The three-minute grace period does not however, allow for indecision or lack of preparedness. Without a planned escape route that has been practiced by the whole family, the successful escape of all family members is at risk. Precious escape time is often spent trying to find children who have panicked and hidden.
Fire is frightening - to adults and children. However, adults, parents, grandparents and other caregivers have a special responsibility. That responsibility is to teach young children the fire safety awareness and skills that may prevent a serious injury and even save a life.
How will Operation EDITH work?
Operation EDITH will focus on one day, Wednesday, October 6th and the designated statewide Exit Drill will take place at 6:00 pm. During the month of September and the week of October 3rd-9th, volunteers will distribute informational coloring books and stickers to area schools and daycares and spend time with these children talking about smoke detectors and Exit Drills.
Even young children can learn exactly what to do if they find themselves in danger from fire. Operation EDITH will focus on three messages:
1. Have a working smoke detector
2. Practice a home Exit Drill
3. Get Low and Go - Stay under the dangerous smoke and get out of the house!
The volunteers who will go into schools and daycares will be independent insurance agents who may be accompanied by local fire and rescue personnel.As a society, we have done such a good job eliminating childhood diseases with vaccinations that now the leading killers of children are unintentional injuries such as traffic incidents, drownings, falls, choking, household poisonings, and fires and burns which are often preventable with enough public education.
The Exit Drill is easy - every family member should know two exits from every room, taking into consideration that one exit may be a window. To start the drill, the family should replace the batteries in the smoke detector and then sound the detector. All family members should Get Low and Go and exit the home immediately. Once they are safely out of the house, every family member should go immediately to the pre-determined meeting place. Having a family meeting place allows parents to know when everyone is safely out of the home. Parents need to reinforce with children that they should never return to a burning building!
What can you do?
No matter what age your children or grandchildren, practice an Exit Drill in your home on Wednesday, October 6th, at 6:00 pm. Remember to change the batteries in your smoke detector twice a year. State Fire Marshal Mike Causey suggests that an easy way to remember is to change them when the clocks spring forward and fall back for Daylight Savings Time.
Talk to children about fire safety, and practice it with them. Make sure children know to tell a grown up if they see smoke or flames, and that when they hear a smoke detector alarm, it means Get Low and Go!
Preventing childhood injuries is up to each of us, and Operation EDITH can help!
Through our involvement in Operation EDITH, we want to help you protect something even more valuable - your children and grandchildren's lives. Thank you.
Speech for Children & Classes
A Speech for Children & Classes
To use when speaking to children
What you will need: A working smoke detector, a bed sheet, EDITH stickers and EDITH informational coloring books
Presenter Outline
Today we are going to talk about what you should do if you hear a smoke detector, smell smoke or see flames in your house.
Part 1 - What is a smoke detector?
(You will need to have a smoke detector with a working battery.)
A. How many of you know what a smoke detector does?
That's right ... it lets us know if there is smoke or fire nearby.
B. How many of you have smoke detectors where you live?
It is a very good idea to have them because they give us a warning that we need to get out of the house and call the fire department.
C. Do you know what a smoke detector sounds like?
(Test the detector by pushing the test button to make it sound)
When you go home, ask your mom and dad to show you where the smoke detectors are at home and let you hear what they sound like.
D. When you hear the smoke detector, what should you do?
Get out of the house. You should never go into a closet or under a bed because you are scared.
You should always get out of the house where you will be safe! Fire can be scary and the safest thing you can do is to get out of the house quickly.
E. If you see smoke or flames somewhere what should you do?
Tell a grown-up.
Smoke and fire are dangerous and it is very important that you tell someone if you see them. You shouldn't worry about getting in trouble, because being safe is more important. Grown-ups want to know if you smell smoke or see flames.
Part 2 - An Exit Plan
Let's say you hear the smoke detector in your house.
You know that means that you have to get out of the house, but what if you couldn't find your way because it was dark or there was something in your way?
It is very important that your mom and dad plan and let you know the best way to get out of your house. Ask your Mom and your Dad to help you plan two ways to get out of the house.
You also need to have a special family meeting place outside of the house.
This is a spot outside - it could be a tree in the yard or your play set, where everyone goes once they get out of the house. That way, your parents know that you and your brothers and sisters are out of the house and safe.
One very important thing: When you get out, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go back into a burning or smoky building.
Part 3: Get Low & Go!
(You will need a large bed sheet.)
A. Who can tell me what usually happens in a fire? It gets hot and it gets smoky.
B. If there is a fire, it is very important that you stay away from the heat and the smoke so you stay safe. That is why you need to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
C. Sometimes, by the time you hear the smoke detector, there may already be lots of smoke in the halls of your house.
D. Right now, we are going to practice what you should do if there is smoke in the halls or rooms in your house. Smoke is very dangerous. It can make us cough and get in our eyes and make it hard for us to see or to breathe. But smoke is funny stuff. It goes up. So the best place for you to be is below the smoke.
E. If the smoke is up to here (indicate your waist level) how do you think we can get out of the house and stay away from the smoke? That's right, we can get down on our hands and knees and CRAWL. If we crawl, we stay low enough that the smoke won't hurt us. Let's pretend that this sheet is the smoke and let's take turns crawling low under the smoke. This is something you should practice at home with your mom and dad, and everyone who lives with you.
Now, let's go over what we have learned.
What do you do when you hear the smoke detector or smell smoke? Get out of the house.
When you see smoke in the hallways what should you do? Crawl under the smoke.
If you see smoke or flames, what should you do? Tell a grown-up.
What should you never, ever do? Go back into a burning or smoky building!
We are going to give you a very important paper that you need to take home and give to your parents so they can learn about Operation EDITH and so you can show them what you learned today.
(Hand out a coloring book and sticker to each child.)
Talking Points
The Problem
• Children age five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Statistics show that for children ages 1-4, fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional injury.
• Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flames. Fear often causes children to hide in a closet or under a bed in the mistaken belief that they are safe from the fire.
• Fear may also prevent children from telling adults about a fire because they fear punishment.
What can be done to protect young children?
Two important steps:
1. Have a working smoke detector in the home; and
2. Practice a home Exit Drill with children.
Facts
• The chances of dying in a home fire are cut in half when there is a working smoke detector and reduced even further if everyone in the home knows what to do when it sounds.
• A home can be overtaken by smoke and flames in just three minutes.
• The warning from a smoke detector can give parents up to three minutes to save themselves and their children ... but ...
• Three minutes does not allow for indecision or a lack of preparedness.
• Without a planned escape route that has been practiced by the whole family, the successful escape of all family members is at risk.
What You Can Do
• Wednesday, October 6th, at 6:00 pm, plan and practice a home Exit Drill.
• Young children learn by mimicking and repeating things. The home Exit Drill is a way to teach young children life-saving fire safety habits.
Develop a Home Exit Plan
• Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Then sit down with your family and talk about what they should do when they hear the alarm.
• Every person should know two exits from each room. Make sure children and adults can easily unlock doors and windows. If you must escape from a second-story window, make sure there is a safe way to reach the ground.
• Decide on a family meeting spot outside the home. If everyone knows where to meet, you will know that everyone is safely out of the house.
• Make sure everyone in the family knows how to call the fire department and stress that everyone needs to get out of the house first, then call the fire department from a neighbor’s house.
Practice Your Plan
• Once you have planned your Exit Drill, practice it.
• Test your smoke detector and have everyone Get Low & Go! Practice crawling low down hallways to stay below the dangerous smoke.
• Once everyone is out of the house and at your family meeting spot, make sure to reinforce to children that they are never to return to a burning building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have a fire safety program for young children?
Tragically, children age five and under are twice as likely to die in fires as are older children and adults. Statistics show that for children ages 1-4, fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional injury.
• From 2009 to 2018, there were 34,624 residential fire deaths in United States and of those deaths, 3,170 were children ages 14 and under.
• On average a child under age 14 dies in a residential fire every day.
• Fire is the sixth leading cause of unintentional death for children under age 19.
Why is the problem so pronounced with younger children?
Many young children die in fires because they instinctively try to hide from smoke and flames. Fear often causes children to hide in a closet or under a bed in the mistaken belief that they are safe from the fire. Fear also causes many children to escape to safety without telling anyone about the fire. They may fear blame, so they do not alert an adult to the fire. Other children left in the home often die or are injured.
What is the goal of Operation EDITH?
Operation EDITH seeks to educate the parents of young children about the importance of talking about what children should do if there is a fire. The cornerstone of the project is an Exit Drill In The Home, thus the name EDITH. Parents will be urged to practice an Exit Drill at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, October 6th, when participating local fire stations sound their sirens. If families are located in areas where no siren is heard, they are still urged to practice their Exit Drill.
How does the project work?
Independent insurance agency personnel across the state will deliver packets of educational materials to schools throughout the community. These materials will include coloring books and stickers for the children and informational brochures on fire safety for parents. The brochures that parents will receive stress the importance of practicing an Exit Drill In The Home with young children. Parents will be urged to:
1. Install and regularly check smoke detectors on every level of the home.
2. Prepare a home exit plan which includes two exits from every room, especially bedrooms, and designate a family meeting spot.
3. Practice the home Exit Drill as a family on Wednesday, October 6th at 6:00 PM, and then twice each year.
Posters may also be displayed in local independent agencies, community businesses and at community events to spread Operation EDITH’s important message.
In addition, agents, in conjunction with local Fire and Rescue personnel, may schedule sessions in area schools (Grades K-3rd) to teach children three important fire safety tips with activities to illustrate:
1. What a Smoke Detector Sounds Like
2. What to do when the detector sounds - Get Low and Go!
3. Go to a Family Meeting Spot Outside the Home
The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina are pleased to be working with and supported by the NC Department of Insurance, State Fire Marshal Mike Causey and local fire and rescue providers.
Independent Insurance Agents of NC
Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, Inc. (IIANC) is a statewide trade association representing nearly 1000 independent insurance agencies in North Carolina, with more than 7,000 employees, who work to protect the insurance and financial needs of the state's citizens.
IIANC members are Trusted Choice independent insurance agencies that can represent more than one insurance company. As a result, independent agents can offer clients a wider choice of auto, home, business, life and health coverages. Trusted Choice independent agents not only advise clients about insurance, they recommend loss-prevention ideas, and if a loss occurs, the independent agent will work with the client until the claim is settled. Find a Trusted Choice agent near you.
Originally founded in 1898, IIANC joins 50 other state associations in membership in Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA). Our national association is recognized throughout the industry, and especially in Washington, DC, as a powerful organization that works to protect Big "I" members and their clients.
IIANC is here to help our members succeed in today’s competitive insurance industry. We know that running an independent agency, no matter how large or small, has its challenges. IIANC strives to make this easier by providing our members with the resources needed to manage their agencies and further their careers. Through IIANC membership, agencies have access to a wide variety of products, services and knowledge including networking opportunities, education, insurance products, agency management services, lobbying, advocacy, and much more.
Learn more at www.iianc.com.
Songs for Kids
Lyrics written by the employees of Senn Dunn Insurance, Greensboro, NC.
Tune: Do Your Ears Hang Low?
Can you get low and go?
Don’t stand on your tippy-toes.
Can you tell your mom & dad...can you tell your sis & bro?
If you think you smell smoke, don’t ya be a slowpoke.
Can you get low and go?
Tune: Itsy-Bitsy Spider
What happens if a fire starts in an EDITH house?
Do you go and hide, or do you run out?
Show your mom and dad that you know the way.
Tell ‘em not to go in that smoky house again.
Tune: Wheels on the Bus
The smoke detectors go...
Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
The smoke detectors go...
Beep, beep, beep... get out of the house (scream!)
The parents in the house go...
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH
The parents in the house go...
AUGH, AUGH, AUGH... get out of house (scream)!
All the kids in house go...
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
Crawl, crawl, crawl (quietly)
All the kids in house go...
Crawl, crawl, crawl... get out of house (scream)!
Red fire engines go...
Toot, Toot, Toot
Toot, Toot, Toot
Toot, Toot, Toot
Red fire engines go...
Toot, Toot, Toot... And we all SAVED THE DAY! (scream)!
NotSafe5
NotSafe4
NotSafe3
NotSafe2
NotSafe1
Safe5
Safe4
Safe2
Safe3
Safe1
Contact
For more information...
Rena Todd
Communications Manager
Address:
Independent Insurance Agents of NC
PO Box 1165
Cary, NC 27512
Phone:
800-849-6556 ext. 540
919-863-6540
E-Fax:
919-882-9873
Web:
www.iianc.com
Request Materials
Materials are available by request each summer. Check out our website for up-to-date information on how to obtain informational coloring books (in both English and Spanish) and/or stickers.
Click here for more information.
Volunteers
Volunteer Timeline
Early September
• Operation EDITH materials are mailed out from IIANC.
Mid September
• Line up support of agents and Fire & Rescue personnel.
• Develop target list of schools and set up times to make presentations or deliver materials.
• Make preliminary media contacts.
Mid-Late September
• Arrange for placement of print ad in local papers.
• Hand deliver news releases and radio PSA scripts.
• Re-confirm fire department support for school presentations.
October 3 - 9
• Drop off materials at schools and make presentations.
Wednesday, October 6, 6:00pm
• Practice an Exit Drill with your family and Get Low & Go!
Volunteer Checklist
• Review the materials and become familiar with the program.
• Solicit other independent agents in your area to assist you with implementing the program.
• Make a target list of area schools that you could distribute project materials to and/or make a brief presentation to the children or parents groups.
• Ask other agents if they will volunteer to drop off kits and/or make brief presentations to schools in the area.
• Ask other agents if they will help fund an ad in the local paper (daily or weekly) that alerts the community to the state-wide Exit Drill in The Home on October 6th at 6:00 PM.
• If you have a Safe Kids coalition in your area, arrange to meet with the coordinator to find out whether volunteers from that group can help distribute materials or make presentations.
• Contact the local fire and rescue personnel in your area, give them an Operation EDITH Q&A sheet and ask for their support of this important fire safety project.
• Ask them to sound their sirens or drive trucks around communities on October 6th at 6:00pm
Teachers
A Speech for Children & Classes
To use when speaking to children
What you will need: A working smoke detector, a bed sheet, EDITH stickers and EDITH informational coloring books
Presenter Outline
Today we are going to talk about what you should do if you hear a smoke detector, smell smoke or see flames in your house.
Part 1 - What is a smoke detector?
(You will need to have a smoke detector with a working battery.)
A. How many of you know what a smoke detector does?
That's right ... it lets us know if there is smoke or fire nearby.
B. How many of you have smoke detectors where you live?
It is a very good idea to have them because they give us a warning that we need to get out of the house and call the fire department.
C. Do you know what a smoke detector sounds like?
(Test the detector by pushing the test button to make it sound)
When you go home, ask your mom and dad to show you where the smoke detectors are at home and let you hear what they sound like.
D. When you hear the smoke detector, what should you do?
Get out of the house. You should never go into a closet or under a bed because you are scared.
You should always get out of the house where you will be safe! Fire can be scary and the safest thing you can do is to get out of the house quickly.
E. If you see smoke or flames somewhere what should you do?
Tell a grown-up.
Smoke and fire are dangerous and it is very important that you tell someone if you see them. You shouldn't worry about getting in trouble, because being safe is more important. Grown-ups want to know if you smell smoke or see flames.
Part 2 - An Exit Plan
Let's say you hear the smoke detector in your house.
You know that means that you have to get out of the house, but what if you couldn't find your way because it was dark or there was something in your way?
It is very important that your mom and dad plan and let you know the best way to get out of your house. Ask your Mom and your Dad to help you plan two ways to get out of the house.
You also need to have a special family meeting place outside of the house.
This is a spot outside - it could be a tree in the yard or your play set, where everyone goes once they get out of the house. That way, your parents know that you and your brothers and sisters are out of the house and safe.
One very important thing: When you get out, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go back into a burning or smoky building.
Part 3: Get Low & Go!
(You will need a large bed sheet.)
A. Who can tell me what usually happens in a fire? It gets hot and it gets smoky.
B. If there is a fire, it is very important that you stay away from the heat and the smoke so you stay safe. That is why you need to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
C. Sometimes, by the time you hear the smoke detector, there may already be lots of smoke in the halls of your house.
D. Right now, we are going to practice what you should do if there is smoke in the halls or rooms in your house. Smoke is very dangerous. It can make us cough and get in our eyes and make it hard for us to see or to breathe. But smoke is funny stuff. It goes up. So the best place for you to be is below the smoke.
E. If the smoke is up to here (indicate your waist level) how do you think we can get out of the house and stay away from the smoke? That's right, we can get down on our hands and knees and CRAWL. If we crawl, we stay low enough that the smoke won't hurt us. Let's pretend that this sheet is the smoke and let's take turns crawling low under the smoke. This is something you should practice at home with your mom and dad, and everyone who lives with you.
Now, let's go over what we have learned.
What do you do when you hear the smoke detector or smell smoke? Get out of the house.
When you see smoke in the hallways what should you do? Crawl under the smoke.
If you see smoke or flames, what should you do? Tell a grown-up.
What should you never, ever do? Go back into a burning or smoky building!
We are going to give you a very important paper that you need to take home and give to your parents so they can learn about Operation EDITH and so you can show them what you learned today.
(Hand out a coloring book and sticker to each child.)
About
Established by the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC) in the state of North Carolina in 1996, Operation EDITH is a fire-safety program that seeks to encourage the parents of young children to talk to their kids about the importance of fire safety. The cornerstone of the campaign is Exit Drill In The Home, thus the name "EDITH". The purpose is to educate early elementary school children and their families about the life-saving value of having a fire escape plan from their home. Each year in October, IIANC member agents help spread this important message around their communities during Fire Prevention Week.
Each year, IIANC prints Operation EDITH materials (informational coloring books in English & Spanish and stickers) for distribution to elementary schools and fire departments around the state. These materials are free for IIANC member agencies. This is a great project to help the community while also advertising the independent insurance agency to parents and community members at no cost!
Contact Rena Todd at rtodd@iianc.com or 919-863-6540 for more information.
Not located in North Carolina? Many fire departments across the United States offer an Operation Edith program, too. Be sure to contact your local department for more information.