Children at the campfire: rules and tasks

Over the years, adults have learned how heat feels and when it gets too close. Children do not yet have this sense. They judge poorly how far heat radiates, how long embers, stones of the fire ring and stick tips stay hot and how quickly loose clothing catches fire. On top of this come curiosity, the urge to move and play – three things that quickly lead to tripping and falling at a fire.

Burns are among the common injuries in childhood, and campfires, barbecues and hot embers are typical causes. Toddlers do not yet understand rules reliably; they need supervision within arm's reach or on a lap. Older children can keep to rules well if they understand them and if the adults follow them themselves.

A clearly visible safety circle made of sticks, stones or a line in the sand marks the boundary. You only go inside the circle with permission. Explain the rules before the fire is lit, not only when something happens: no running, no pushing, nothing thrown into the fire, no waving burning sticks around, no touching hot things.

Agree fixed seats at a safe distance, not downwind, so that nobody sits in the smoke or gets hit by sparks. Long hair is tied back, wide sleeves and loose scarves stay away. Close-fitting clothing made of cotton or wool is better than synthetics, which can melt and stick to the skin.

When toasting twist bread and marshmallows, long sticks and patience help: cook over coals instead of holding the food in the flames. Hot stick tips go straight into the water bucket or the fire after eating. Melted marshmallow sugar is very hot and sticky – let it cool first.

Never throw aerosol cans, batteries, glass, closed cans or bottles into the fire – they can burst or explode. And do not use accelerants: children copy what adults do, and what an adult does “just this once”, a child may later try alone.

If clothing is burning, running away is the worst thing to do, because the draught fans the flames. The right thing is: stop, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll back and forth until the flames are smothered. Practise this playfully with children before it is needed.

Cool burns immediately with cool, not ice-cold, running water. For children, for large or deep burns and for burns to the face or hands, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU). The responsible adult must not supervise “on the side” while cooking or on the phone – if they have to do something else, they explicitly hand over supervision to someone else.

Children who are allowed to help turn from spectators into participants – and participants are more likely to stick to rules. Younger children can sort wood by size, from as thin as a matchstick to as thick as an arm. They can guard the water bucket and make sure it stays full.

Older children can build the fire under guidance, light it and help put it out at the end: pouring water, stirring, checking with the back of the hand whether heat is still rising. Finally, show together how a fire is put out completely, and leave the fire site only when everything is cold.

Children who learn early how to make and extinguish a fire safely often handle it more responsibly later than children for whom fire remains a prohibition and a mystery. Fire-prevention campaigns therefore explicitly address children too.

But rules never replace supervision. Even the most sensible child can trip. And before every fire, with children too: check local rules and wildfire danger and make fires only at a safe, permitted fire site.