National Burn Awareness Week starts Sunday, and Newton Fire Department wants to educate residents of all ages about the dangers of burns and fires in the home.

“Our goal is to enlighten people to keep them safe,” said David Watson, Newton Fire Department fire inspector.

The Remembering When program, part of the National Fire Protection Association, teaches home safety tips to the elderly, such as cooking safety, slip hazards and fire prevention. Watson travels to assisted living facilities, church groups and other locations to teach the Remembering When program.

“As folks get a little older, they sometimes forget,” Watson said.

To avoid falls, the program recommends regular exercise, clear walkways and slow movement. Although the program is designed for older adults, people of all ages benefit from the program, Watson said.

Unattended food left cooking is a common cause of many household fires, and the program teaches participants what to do if a fire starts in their kitchen.

Many people instinctively slam down a lid over a pot that caught on fire. The correct way to extinguish fire in a pot is to carefully slide the lid over then pan and turn off the burner, Watson said.  

The best thing people can do to stay safe in their homes is test their smoke alarms on a regular basis, Watson said. Simple upkeep, such as replacing batteries on smoke alarms, is inexpensive and effective in keeping your home safe, he said.   

The Remembering When program is free. Anyone interested in the program can contact the Newton Fire Department to schedule a session.

The Newton Fire Department also partnered with New Beginning Learning Center to teach the Start Safe program. Start Safe, created by the Home Safety Council and Weekly Reader Publishing, educates children ages 3-5 about fire safety and prevention.

Teaching children about safety at a young age helps them remember the information in the future.

“You start off teaching them at a young age, and you continue learning as you grow,” Watson said.

Start Safe teaches children how to devise a fire escape plan for their homes in the event of a fire.

Linda Lail, a director at New Beginning, said the program, which was implemented last year, has been very effective.

In addition to educating children about fire safety, Start Safe also includes two parent meetings. During the sessions, parents learn about how to prevent burn accidents in the home.

“The parents were really excited,” Lail said.

She said a toddler who attended New Beginning was seriously burned at the child’s home when she pulled down her father’s cup of hot tea. Start Safe teaches parents to keep hot items out of children’s reach.  

“Simple things like that can make a huge difference,” Lail said.

In the Start Safe program, children learn songs and make posters to remember dangers in the home. They are taught to say, “I spot something hot,” when they see an item that could burn them.

To prevent burns in the home, the Firefighter’s Burned Children Fund recommends citizens install tempering valves to regulate water temperatures, test hot drinks and foods before giving them to children and never leave hot items where children can reach them.