Safe at Home

§Text Passage

1Summary 重點摘要

Use appliances correctly, keep away from kitchen and climbing dangers, know what to do in a fire and with strangers — then home is safe.

2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary

3Step by step Steps

1. Step 1: Use electricity safelyElectricity gives us light and convenience, but used wrongly it hurts. Never poke fingers or metal into sockets, never pull wires, and never touch appliances or switches with wet hands — water conducts electricity and can shock us. Tell an adult at once if a wire is damaged or a plug feels hot; do not fill one socket with too many plugs, or it may overheat and start a fire. Unplug appliances not used for a long time — safe and saves power. Make safe electricity use a habit, and electricity stays our good helper.
2. Step 2: Use appliances and devices correctlyOur homes have many appliances and devices, such as rice cookers, fans, TVs, computers and phones. Learn the right way from an adult before using them. Switch appliances off after use and unplug those not needed for a long time — safe and saves energy. Never charge phones or tablets on the bed or beside pillows, and unplug the charger after charging to avoid overheating. Never touch moving parts while a machine works, and keep fingers out of a running fan. Used correctly, appliances make home life easy and safe.
3. Step 3: Keep away from kitchen and climbing dangersThe kitchen hides many dangers: hot flames, boiling soup, sharp knives and slippery floors. Do not cook alone or run about in the kitchen; keep away while adults cook. To help, ask an adult to give you safe jobs like washing vegetables or laying the bowls. Do not climb at home either — standing on folding stools, chairs or cupboards easily causes falls; ask an adult to fetch things from high places. Keep floors dry and tidy, and there will be fewer falls and burns.
4. Step 4: Know what to do in a fireIf a fire starts, staying calm matters most. Alert your family loudly at once, follow the escape route and leave by the stairs — never by the lift. In thick smoke, cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel and stay low while moving, because smoke rises. From a safe place, call 999 and clearly say the address and the situation; never go back into the fire for belongings. Agree on a family meeting place, remember where the fire exits are, and practise seriously in fire drills — then you will not panic in a real emergency.
5. Step 5: Never open the door to strangersWhen someone knocks, go behind the door and look through the peephole first; do not open at once. If you do not know the person — however he calls himself, a courier, a repairman or a friend of Mum and Dad — do not open the door. You may say through the door that Mum and Dad are busy and ask him to come later. Then call your parents to tell them; if he keeps knocking and will not leave, or tries to open the door, call 999 at once. Remember: the front door is the family's guard — no one opens it without an adult's permission.
6. Step 6: Rules for being home aloneSometimes we stay home alone for a short while, so follow the safety rules even more strictly: lock the front door and never open it to strangers; do not play with fire, sockets or appliances; do not climb or climb out of windows; call Mum and Dad or a trusted neighbour when needed. On the phone, never tell anyone you are alone. Stay home until the adults return and let your family know where you are. Remember 999, stay calm and call for help — be an alert and responsible child.

5Worked example Example

6Common mistakes Mistakes

7Quick check Quick check

8Recap Recap

• Never play with sockets and wires; keep wet hands off appliances.
• The kitchen has many dangers, and climbing causes falls — be careful everywhere.
• In a fire stay calm, escape by the stairs, and call 999.
• Never open the door to strangers; tell an adult at once.
• Use appliances correctly and switch them off after use — then home is safe.