Hot tips:

North American Children are killed or seriously hurt in fire twice as often as adults. To keep help your child safe, fire prevention experts advise:

• Turn pot and pan handles inward so they can't be knocked off the stove



• Don't store cookies, candies or other treats near the stove. Children can get burned trying to climb over the stove to reach for them.



• Keep matches and lighters out of reach, on a high shelf. Ideally, they should be kept in a locked box or cabinet.



• Teach your kids that lighters and matches are ``tools, not toys."  If your kids see them on the ground, they should tell a grown-up.



• Practice ``stop, drop and rolls" as the safe way to extinguish clothing that has caught fire. Have your children cover their face with their hands, then drop, stretch out on the ground, and roll over and over.



• During the holiday season, remember to water Christmas Trees to keep them from drying out and going from festive to flammable.



• Also play it safe during barbecues season. Remember to open the lid before you turn on a gas barbecue. Otherwise, gas can collect under the lid and explode when you light it.