While having a fireplace in the home is a luxury, you have to keep in mind the potential danger it can cause. A fire can cause problems for your home, pets and kids if you do not take the proper precautions. The last thing you want is to harm or injure your kids just to add some décor to the room. Here are some tips to help keep your kids safe around the fire.
The first thing you want to include is
fireplace screens to help protect your kids from the fire. While screens are going to reduce the amount of heat that comes out of the fireplace, it will keep most of the smoke within the chimney. You certainly do not want your kids breathing in a great deal of smoke the fire produces. It will also keep the flames inside the chimney reducing the chances of your kids getting burned.
In addition to fireplace screens, having fireplace doors is highly recommended. While screens do a good job, they do not completely eliminate the risks of your children burning themselves. Doors allow you to lock away the flames as well as any
fireplace tools or accessories you may have placed inside the fireplace.
What many parents forget about is how hot glass windows and doors can get from the fire. Just because you have enclosed the flames does not mean your children cannot get burned from the glass. This is precisely why you need to place a barrier of some sort around the fireplace to prevent them from getting anywhere near the doors. Hearth rugs or a simple enclosed step can make this possible.
On the floor just outside of the fireplace you will want to put down
fireplace rugs. This will provide some distance between the fireplace and where your kids can walk. It will also catch any ashes or sparks that may come out if you for some reason do not have the doors closed. It is important you make it clear to your kids that they are not allowed to go past the rug.
The last tip to protect your kids around the fire is putting away the tools. Some fire tools can be quite dangerous like tongs and a poker. They can be fairly sharp and pose a threat to your child. Take the two second walk to the closet and put away the tools to protect your children.
If you are going to install a fireplace into your home, you need to be smart about how you use it. It is vital you follow the tips in this article to help protect your kids from the heat, flames, and any tools or
fireplace accessories you may have.
