Keeping Kids Safe Around the Fire Pit 

Summertime means fun nights outside with the kids! Nothing brings the family together more than sitting around an open fire. Fire pits can be a perfect center to a large group or exactly what you need to make a favorite sweet treat. Although kids seem to have no fears, it is important to do everything you can to keep them safe around the flames. Our Firepits are easy to use and created to contain the fire in its entirety. At the end of the day, children will still gravitate towards the flames and there are certain precautions you can take to help keep them safe.

Avoiding Accidents

There are some things that you can do right away to help with fire safety. Make sure to set the fire pit up at least 10 feet away from any structures and always have an extinguisher nearby. Even if it is a few people, it is easy for a fire to spread if other elements are present. You should also have a first aid kit within reach anytime you choose to have a fire. This way if a flame were to jump or a hand rests on the fire pit, you have an ice pack and necessary items close by. You should also avoid going near the pit even when the fire gets put out. It takes time for that kind of temperature to lower and even when it is out the kids should remain at a far distance.

The best practice is to assume something could happen and be ready when it does. Children tend to test the limits and although you have the fire contained, it can still be very dangerous around young children.

Teaching Fire Safety

It is never too early to start teaching kids about fire safety. You can start by showing them how the fire pit works. Show them the different aspects of it, how to set it up, and how to put a fire out.

If they have friends over, they will know when someone is too close to the fire, how far away it should be set up from the house, and avoid objects getting to close. This is crucial to explain the effects that fire can have on the body when too close.

One thing that you and your kids can do together draws a safety circle around the fire. You can use rocks, pavers, chalk, paint, tape, or whatever you find in your house. If you want to make it look even cooler, you can add different colored lights to brighten it up. Creating a circle around the fire area helps give a visual to people so they know where to stand. It also allows children to see how close is “too close”. One other rule of thumb is to never leave your fire unattended. It takes seconds for something to happen. It is important to make sure that someone is always monitoring the fire.

Have Activities Away from Fire

Keeping kids busy away from the fire is key. If you are choosing to have the fire pit set up, what are the kids going to do? Other than making s'mores, most kids will not want to sit around a fire all night. The goal of keeping them at a distance is to give them a reason to! Crafts, games, food, and other activities are a great way to keep an eye on them and keep them close. As you start to plan your fun night ahead, make sure that activity planning is part of it.

They can also help with the setup of the fire pit. This is a great way to teach them safety as well as the proper placement of everything. Allow them to help set up the chairs, benches, and even tents if you are going to bring those out. If you are setting up tents, make sure that they are nowhere near the fire. This is a great way to have the kids in a secure location and at a safe distance from the fire. In the tent you can prepare snacks, games and flashlights for safe lighting to their fun!

What to Have Nearby

Do you have a list of items that you should have nearby when you have a fire going? We touched base on a first aid kit, but there are several other items you will want close to you. Consider having a large container of water, in case anything else catches a flame. More important than water, make sure to have a fire extinguisher close to you! You will want this within arm’s reach so that if a person, item, or outdoor element catches on fire, you are ready to jump in and take action. This would also be a great thing to teach your kids (age-appropriate) how to use in case you step away and they need to use it.

Summer nights around a fire is an absolute blast! With these tips, you can make sure that your whole family stays safe and your kids know the rules. Remember to discuss with them the do's and don’ts of fire safety and always be ready for a potential incident. Set your fire pit up in an open area and take precautions so you, your neighbors, and all those present can have a safe and enjoyable evening. We hope you have a great summer full of amazing memories around your fire pit!