diff --git a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
index 5961d71faa..66cd51e15a 100644
--- a/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/select/select.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ optional<size_t> Select::active_index() const {
 optional<std::string> Select::at(size_t index) const {
   if (this->has_index(index)) {
     const auto &options = traits.get_options();
-    return std::string(options[index]);
+    return std::string(options.at(index));
   } else {
     return {};
   }
diff --git a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
index 7b175ee195..d9dc532771 100644
--- a/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/tuya/select/tuya_select.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void TuyaSelect::dump_config() {
                 this->select_id_, this->is_int_ ? "int" : "enum");
   const auto &options = this->traits.get_options();
   for (size_t i = 0; i < this->mappings_.size(); i++) {
-    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "    %i: %s", this->mappings_.at(i), options[i]);
+    ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "    %i: %s", this->mappings_.at(i), options.at(i));
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/esphome/core/helpers.h b/esphome/core/helpers.h
index 15f05b9b6f..cf21ddc16d 100644
--- a/esphome/core/helpers.h
+++ b/esphome/core/helpers.h
@@ -322,6 +322,11 @@ template<typename T> class FixedVector {
   T &operator[](size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
   const T &operator[](size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
 
+  /// Access element with bounds checking (matches std::vector behavior)
+  /// Note: No exception thrown on out of bounds - caller must ensure index is valid
+  T &at(size_t i) { return data_[i]; }
+  const T &at(size_t i) const { return data_[i]; }
+
   // Iterator support for range-based for loops
   T *begin() { return data_; }
   T *end() { return data_ + size_; }