Protecting your children during fire season

Im sure every Aussie on Minti, and most likely many members from overseas, are all too aware that this is bushfire season. Here are a few tips to protect ourselves this summer: Keep drains and gutters free of leaves, that goes for lawns, gardens etc too. Currently NSW is in a total fire ban. * PLEASE i beg you, DO NOT light a fire. I know you might think its stupid me saying that, but trust me, some people do. That means gas bbq's as well. * When smoking, make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished when you put it out. Keep a plastic bottle half full of water, and put the butt in the bottle. This way the smoke will definately be out. *What better time as now to teach your kids how to ring 000 (or 911 in the states)? Have a practice run and see how they go. *For elder children, who can handle stressful situations well, watching the movie Ladder49 is brilliant in showing them what actually goes on behind the scenes for firemen and their victims, however I wouldnt let young kids watch it, as some of the scenes are quite disturbing and i think its rated M15+. And if the fires do hit the area you live in, *Dress yourself and your children in natural fibres. Cotton is the best although wool will also do. Not that Id want to wear a wooly jumper in this heat. Long sleeves are good if the fire is very close to you and youre in immediate danger, as it will protect your skin. *If you need to evacuate your house, and if you have time, wet some towels thoroughly, and wrap yourself and your kids in them, making sure your childrens face and chest are covered, if you are covering them. Also you can wet a tea towel and tie it around your face to prevent smoke inhalation. *And dont forget to "GET DOWN LOW AND GO GO GO!!!" And last but not least, here is an extract of a blog I just wrote, which made me think of doing this peice of advice. A TRIBUTE TO THE RFS: As our beautiful country glows red with flames tonight, spare a thought for our wonderful Rural Fire Service, the only fire service in the world that has volunteers. There are 42 fires in NSW alone tonight, and hundreds, most likely thousands of Aussie men and women risking their lives to save our homes. These people truly deserve a medal and every last one of them are heroes. On behalf of Minti I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.