All too often, people are badly burned when their clothes catch fire. Sometimes the burns are made worse when people run to get water or someone to help. Fires need air (oxygen) to burn. If your clothes catch fire and you run, you are feeding the fire and it will burn hotter and faster.

Teach your children and every member of your family the “Stop, Drop and Roll” safety lesson. Here are the basic steps:

STOP where you are. Running will only make the fire worse since fire feeds on oxygen

DROP to your knees and then to the ground.

ROLL over and over or from side to side, covering your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands, if possible, rolling until you’re sure the fire is out. This will help smother the flames.

Remember that practice make perfect. Practicing make the actual response more of an immediate reaction that requires less thinking time during an actual emergency situation. Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin with water for 10 to 15 minutes and get medical attention.

For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Association.