Raytown Fire Protection District web site banner


Forms and Documents
Public Education
Home Safety
Fire Extinguishers
Burn Info
First Aid
Babysitter Info
Heating Appliances
Holiday Safety
Smoke Detectors
Carbon Monoxide
Away From Home
Workplace Safety
Hotel Safety
After the Fire
Poison Safety
Special Programs
Merit Badge


knowyourstuff.org link button

9-1-1 graphic
 

Updated Friday March 26, 2010

              Boy Scouts of America      FIRE  SAFETY   Merit Badge

This page lists the requirements for this merit badge, a work sheet that includes where you can find the information within this website. Also included at the bottom of this page are various web links to gather more information pertaining to this merit badge.

For a printable MS Word version of the Merit Badge requirements, click here. For a PDF version click here.

For a printable MS Word version of the Merit Badge Work Sheet, click here.   For a PDF version click here.

For a printable MS Word version of the Home Fire Safety Survey, click here.   For a PDF version, click here.

To go to the worksheet on this page click here.  To go to the reference links click here.
 

1) Do the following:

A) Demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, roll, and cool.  Explain how burn injuries can be prevented.

B) List the most frequent causes of burn injuries.

 

2) Explain the chemistry and physics of fire.  Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron.  Explain why vapors are important to the burning process.  Name the products of combustion.  Give an example of how fire grows and what happens.

 

3) Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways it can be prevented.

 

4) Do the following:

A) Explain the role of human behavior in the arson problem in this country.

B) List the actions that cause seasonal fires and explain how these fires can be prevented.

 

5) List common circumstances that cause holiday-related fires and explain how these fires can be prevented.

 

6) Conduct a home safety survey with the help of an adult. Then do the following:

A) Draw a home fire escape plan, create a home fire drill schedule, and conduct a home fire drill.

B) Test a smoke alarm and demonstrate regular maintenance of a smoke alarm.  (Note: Establish a pattern.  For example, change smoke alarm batteries at least once a year -- on the same birthday or holiday each year, or when you set your clocks forward for daylight savings time in the spring, or back in the fall for return to standard time.

C) Explain what to do when you smell gas and when you smell smoke.

D) Explain how you would report a fire alarm.

E) Explain what fire safety equipment can be found in public buildings.

F) Explain who should use fire extinguishers and when these devices can be used.

G) Explain how to extinguish a grease pan fire.

H) Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building.

 

7) Do the following:

A) Demonstrate lighting a match safely.

B) Demonstrate the safe way to start a charcoal fire.

C) Demonstrate the safe way to melt wax.

 

8) Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible liquids and between combustible and noncombustible fabrics.

 

9) Do the following:

A) Demonstrate the safe way to fuel a lawn mower.

B) Demonstrate the safety factors, such as proper ventilation, for auxiliary heating devices and the proper way to fuel such devices.

 

10) Do the following:

A) Explain the cost of outdoor and wildland fires and how to prevent them.

B) Demonstrate setting up and putting out a cooking fire.

C) Demonstrate using a camp-stove and lantern.

D) Explain how to set up a campsite safe from fire.

 

11) Visit a fire station.  Identify the types of fire trucks.  Find out about the fire prevention activities in your community.

 

12) Choose a fire-safety-related career that interests you and describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position.  Tell why this position interests you.

 

Return to top of this page

Fire Safety Work sheet

Requirement 1

___ Demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, roll, and cool. (Pamphlet Page 45), See Babysitter information page  or See Burn information page

Explain how burn injuries can be prevented:  See Burn information page

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

List the most frequent causes of burn injuries: See Burn information page


Cause: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Cause: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Cause: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Requirement 2

 

Explain the chemistry and physics of fire:  (Pamphlet Page 8)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron:  (Pamphlet Page 10)

1: _________________________     2: _________________________     3: _________________________     4: _________________________

Why are vapors important to the burning process?  (Pamphlet Page 10)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name the products of combustion:  (Pamphlet Page 11)

1: _________________________     2: _________________________     3: _________________________

Give an example of how fire grows and what happens:          

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 3

Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways it can be prevented. See Home Safety page  (Pamphlet Page 13 through 18)

 

Cause #1: ______________________________________________

 

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cause #2: ______________________________________________

 

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cause #3: ______________________________________________

 

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cause #4: ______________________________________________

 

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cause #5: ______________________________________________

 

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 4

Explain the role of human behavior in the arson problem in this country:  (Pamphlet Page 18)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

List the actions that cause seasonal fires and explain how these fires can be prevented:  (Pamphlet Page 19 through 22)

December - February: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

March - May: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

June - August: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

September - November: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 5

List common circumstances that cause holiday-related fires and explain how these fires can be prevented: See Holiday Safety page  (Pamphlet Page 19 through 22)

December - February: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

March - May: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

June - August: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

September - November: ______________________________________________

Prevention: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 6

__ At the bottom of this worksheet you will find a Home Safety Survey.  Complete the survey with an adult before moving on.

After completing the safety survey, use the area below to draw a home fire escape plan. (Pamphlet Page 28 through 31) Follow the layout and include everything described in your merit badge pamphlet. See Home Safety page
Using the information given in the merit badge pamphlet, create a home fire drill schedule.  (Pamphlet Page 31 ) See Home Safety page 
Use this space or attach an additional piece of paper to the worksheet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to top of this page

__ Conduct a home fire drill  See Home Safety page

Describe how your fire drill turned out and identify any part of your fire drill that needs more practice: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

__ Test a smoke alarm. See Smoke Detector page  (Pamphlet Page 32 through 34)

Describe regular maintenance of a smoke alarm: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Establish a pattern for testing your smoke alarms.  When and how often have you decided to test your smoke alarms? See Smoke Detector page  (Pamphlet Page 34)

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain what to do when you smell natural gas:  (Pamphlet Page 43)________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain what to do when you smell smoke: See Fire Safety page  (Pamphlet Page 42)___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain how you would report a fire alarm:  (Pamphlet Page 35)___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain what fire safety equipment can be found in public buildings:  (Pamphlet Page 36)_________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain who should use fire extinguishers: See Fire Extinguisher page (Pamphlet Page 36 and 37) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Explain when fire extinguishers should be used: See Fire Extinguisher page (Pamphlet Page 36 and 37) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Explain how to extinguish a grease pan fire: See Home Safety page (Pamphlet Page 37 and 38) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building: See Hotel Safety page (Pamphlet Page 36) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 7

With your counselor present, demonstrate the following:
__ Light a match safely. (Pamphlet Page 48)

__ Safely start a charcoal fire.( Pamphlet Page 48 and 49)

__ Safely melt wax. (Pamphlet Page 50)
 

Requirement 8

Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible liquids: (Pamphlet Page 52 through 54)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible fabrics: (Pamphlet Page 52 through 54)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 9

With your counselor present:

__ Demonstrate the safe way to fuel a lawn mower. (Pamphlet Page 55)

__ Demonstrate the safety factors, such as proper ventilation, for auxiliary heating devices. (Pamphlet Page 51 through 52)

__ Demonstrate the proper way to fuel auxiliary heating devices. (Pamphlet Page 52 through 54)

 

Requirement 10

Explain the cost of outdoor and wildland fires: (Pamphlet Page 58)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain how to prevent outdoor and wildland fires: (Pamphlet Page 59 through 60)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__  Demonstrate setting up and putting out a cooking fire. See Home Safety page (Pamphlet Page 53 through 64)

 __ Demonstrate using a camp-stove and lantern (Pamphlet Page 61 through 62)

Explain how to set up a campsite safe from a fire: (Pamphlet Page 59)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 11

__ Visit a fire station

What types of truck did you see and identify during your visit to the fire station? (Pamphlet Page 68) See apparatus page for similar types of trucks (Maybe different in your city)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What fire prevention activities are going on in your community? (Pamphlet Page 66 through 67) See Special Programs page, Code Enforcement page, Public Education page
and Fire Prevention page (Maybe different in your city)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Requirement 12



Choose a fire-safety-related career that interests you: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the level of education required of a person in that position: (Pamphlet Page 66 through 67), See Hiring page (Maybe different in your city)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the responsibilities of a person in that position: (Pamphlet Page 66 through 67), See Hiring page (Maybe different in your city)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tell why this position interests you: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Return to top of this page

Home Safety Survey

Together with your parents and other members of your family, use this checklist to check the safety of your house.  Not every question will apply to your home, but most probably will.  For each question that is answered with a yes, put a number 1 in the score column.  After going through the entire list, add up your score.  Where you have answered no, attempt to correct the hazards or change the actions.  After a few days of making corrections, go through the list again and see how much your score has improved.

Fire Safety Checklist

Score

 

 

 

 

Matches

 

 

____

Are matches kept where young children can not get hold of them?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are strike-anywhere matches kept in metal containers?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

Are all matches kept away from sources of heat such as stoves and heaters?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Do you see to it that all matches and smoking materials are out before they are disposed of?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are there plenty of unburnable deep-dish ashtrays in all rooms of the house?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is "no smoking in bed" a rule of the house?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

is a responsible person left with the children when the parents go out, even for a little while?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

Are baby-sitters instructed carefully on what to do in case of fire?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

Smoke Detectors

 

 

____

Are the smoke detectors in your home installed properly?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are smoke detectors located in all sleeping areas of your home and on every level?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are all smoke detectors tested at least once a month?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

When the smoke detector sounds, does everyone know to get out of the house immediately?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

If a smoke detector fails to operate when tested, is it fixed immediately?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Do you change the batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year, such as on a birthday or holiday,

 

 

 

or when you set your clocks forward in the spring for daylight savings time, or back in the fall for return 

 

 

 

to standard time?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

Electrical Hazards

 

 

____

Are only qualified electricians allowed to install or extend wiring?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

When you buy electrical equipment - extension cords, appliances, TV sets, and all other devices - do 

 

 

 

you always make sure it has been tested at an approved facility, such as Underwriters' Laboratories?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are enough electrical outlets in each room to avoid the need for multiple attachment plugs and long 

 

 

 

extension cords?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are there special circuits for heavy-duty appliances such as stoves, air conditioners, and clothes dryers?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

On the household lighting circuit, are the proper fuses or circuit-breakers used?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are all extension cords in the open - not run under rugs, over hooks, or through partitions or door openings?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

Storage And Flammable Liquids

 

 

____

Are your basement, closets, and attic kept free of rubbish, oily rags, flammable liquids, large stacks of paper, etc., and is necessary storage kept in orderly fashion?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

After oily polishing rags are used, are they destroyed or else placed in covered metal cans in a metal cabinet in the garage?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

____

If you store paint, varnish, or other flammable liquids, are the containers metal, tightly closed, and kept in a metal cabinet in the garage?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If you keep gasoline for use in a power mower or outboard motor, is it stored in an approved metal

 

 

 

can with a self-closing cap on the openings?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If you burn coal, are ashes put in metal containers, clear of wood floors or partitions?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Has everyone in the family been warned never to use gasoline, benzine, or other flammable liquids for cleaning clothes, furnishings, or floors?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If your garage is attached to the house or in the basement, is it separated from the living area by cutoff walls with a tight-fitting door?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

Heating And Cooking

 

 

____

IF you use oil heat, is the equipment listed by Underwriters' Laboratories?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If you use gas heat, is the equipment listed by Underwriter's Laboratories or the American Gas Association Laboratories?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If your heating system is oil or coal, do you have it inspected and serviced before each season begins?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

If your heating system is gas, is it regularly checked and serviced?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are all chimneys, gas and smoke pipes, and other flue connections inspected each fall and cleaned and repaired as necessary?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are walls, ceilings, and partitions near heating and cooking equipment either adequately separated from the sources of heat or protected by noncombustible materials?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are wood floors under space heaters or coal stoves protected by insulation or ventilated air space?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is the inside basement door at the head of the stairs tightly fitted and kept closed at night?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is the kitchen stove, including the oven and broiler, kept clean of grease?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is the kitchen exhaust fan kept clean of grease?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are curtains arranged so as not to blow over stoves and heaters?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are all portable and space heaters set level and out of the way of traffic?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are oil and gas heaters, which use oxygen as they burn, properly vented?  Do you always keep a

 

 

 

door or window slightly open in any room where such a heater is being used?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are the fuel tanks of oil heaters refilled only by adults outdoors and in daylight?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are the gas connections for space heaters or other gas appliances made of metal?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Has everyone in the family been warned never to use kerosene or other flammable liquids to start a 

 

 

 

fire in the fireplace or furnace?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is every indoor fireplace equipped with a sturdy metal fire screen?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are the shutoff valves for gas appliances located on the rigid metal gas pipeline where they can be

 

 

 

reached in case of trouble - and not on the appliance?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Have all electric, oil, or gas heaters been tested and listed by a recognized testing laboratory such as

 

 

 

Underwriters' Laboratories?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yard Hazards

 

 

____ 

Do you keep your yard cleared of leaves, debris, and combustible rubbish?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

In areas where burning trash Is permitted, are trash and refuse burned only in suitable outdoor

 

 

 

incinerators and on sufficiently calm days?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is an adult always present during the entire time trash or leaves are being burned outdoors?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are charcoal grills used only outdoors and lighted without the use of liquid fuels?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Hazards

 

 

____

Do you have a save and sane Fourth of July by not using fireworks?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

In buying gift toys, do you insist on those that can't cause fire, shock, or explosion?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is your Christmas tree kept in water and thrown out when the needles begin to fall?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

Is all decorative lighting checked for frayed and loose sockets?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is the tree kept outside until you are ready to set it up?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Is there a switch away from the tree for turning the lights on and off?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____ 

Are tree lights shut off whenever you go out or to bed?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are all decorating materials noncombustible?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are gift wrappings gathered up and disposed of promptly after presents are opened?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Are candles placed so they cannot reach combustible materials?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Does every family member know the proper procedure for reporting a fire in your community, such

 

 

 

as the 911 or other emergency number, or the location of the neighborhood fire-alarm box?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Does every family member know how to call the fire department?

__ Yes    

 __ No

____

Did the entire family take part in completing this checklist?

__ Yes    

 __ No

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents Signature: _____________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st SCORE TOTAL:  __________         2nd SCORE TOTAL: __________

 

 

Return to top of this page

 

Home
Contact Us    Site Map


National Homeland Security Knowledgebase

Firehouse.com scrolling headline fire news