The game addresses common misconceptions among both kids and adults regarding house fires. Some kids have the natural instinct to hide or to grab their things, while others may have heard the myth that covering your face with a damp washcloth will protect you from the smoke. Turning critical safety lessons into an interactive video game helps young museum visitors practice what to do before they face a real fire emergency. Players must check doors for heat, avoid smoke-filled hallways and make split-second decisions.

“It’s very common for people to think that hiding in the bathtub or covering the face with a damp washcloth will keep them safe from the fire,” McCall said. “But the firefighters we worked closely with assured us that the smoke is much more dangerous, which the bathtub and washcloths will not protect you from. These misconceptions become teachable moments in the game, where we can show the player directly what they should be doing.” 

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