I came across this article which I must definitely share with you guys as I'm very interested to know your thoughts on this. Do note that sharing this does not mean I agree or disagree with it. For your convenience, I have copied the excerpts from the article here:
Families rely on a smoke alarm to wake them up in case of a fire at night, but will everyone hear the beep? That blaring sound of a smoke alarm may be loud and audible to an adult, but parents know, at times, kids can sleep through anything.
If you can’t get to your kids to save them during a fire: Will they wake up on their own, and know what to do? While adults may jump out of bed, sleep experts warn children often won’t hear or respond to the sound of a smoke alarm.
Watch a video (click on image below for link to launch video) taken of the Velsor family who allowed their family to be put to the test. The Velsor kids are 10-year-old Logan, 4-year-old Mason and 2-year-old Easton. The kids, especially the older two, know fires are dangerous. They’ve had fire drills at school, and they’ve heard the smoke alarm go off in their home. The family has talked about a plan in case of a fire, but they’ve never put it to the test.
Children get a tremendous amount of this deep sleep, and it’s during this deep sleep when the body doesn’t like to be bothered, and it really avoids or doesn’t respond to outside stimulants and as a result that’s a time when a child becomes very difficult to awaken.
Fire doubles in size every 30 to 60 seconds. An entire room can be engulfed in flames and full of smoke in minutes.
It’s crucial for families to practice their escape plan, and to make sure kids know, and are familiar with, the distinct sound of a smoke alarm. It’s important to test a plan at least twice a year, and at different times of the day and night.
For further reading:
* How to Conduct a Home Fire Drill
* What to do during a house fire?
* What to do in a fire?
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