Prevent and extinguish fires!
Prevent and extinguish fires!
Fire is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the home. How can you prevent a distaster and improve your chances of fire survival?
SMOKE ALARM!
According to the World Burn Foundation of Southern Africa, the most burn deaths occur at night when people are asleep, between 23:00pm and 07:00am. Many people in home fires die from burns, but many other die from breathing toxic gases produced by the fire.
Smoke alarms can double your chance of surviving a house fire. The biggest killer in a home fire is the smoke. When people are asleep, they can’t wake up from the smell of the smoke. Therefore, if a home fire happens, the toxic smoke will cause the occupants to go into a deeper sleep, until breathing stops completely. If the occupants wake up, it may be too late as the extensive heat and toxic black smoke has already filled the home and will disorientate them, preventing a quick escape.
A smoke alarm makes you aware of the fire earlier, which means that the occupants in the house will have time to escape. It is recommended that smoke alarms should be fitted in every room and can be purchased from security outlets and large retail chain stores.
It is also essential that the family has planned, implemented and practiced an effective escape route suitable for the whole family, top ensure that a quick and easy escape from a burning home. An effective plan escape includes drawing the floor plan of the house, indicating at least two escape routes from each room as well as a safe meeting place outside.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE FIRE SURVIVAL
In the event of a fire, remember that time is your biggest enemy and every second counts. It only takes a few minutes for a house to fill up with smoke and become engulfed in flames.
If the main exit is blocked by flames or smoke, you will need a second way out. Ensure that windows are not stuck and that security bars can be opened from the inside, if this is your secondary escape route. Security bars may help your family to be safe from intruders, but they can also trap you in a deadly fire. Windows and doors with security bars must have quick release devises to allow them to be opened immediately in an emergency. Make sure that everyone at home understands and practices how to properly operate and open the locked doors and windows.
Leave the home immediately when a fire occurs, do not waste any time saving the property as it may cost you your life! Take the safest exit route and remember to crawl low, under the smoke, and keep your mouth and nose covered.
FIRE PREVENTION TIPS
Prevent fires caused by cooking in the kitchen
• Always stay in the kitchen while you are cooking.
• Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper, plastic bags and curtains at least a meter away from all electric appliances.
• Before cooking, roll up your sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can brush against a hot stove and catch on fire.
• Never leave your braai or grill unattended while you are using it, and keep children away!
Prevent fires caused by heating
• Store matched and lighters in a locked cabinet
• Keep heaters away from things that can burn, such as curtains or paper. Always turn heaters off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Let a professional person inspect your chimney, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Have these cleaned when necessary.
• Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and fit a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.
Prevent fires caused by smoking
• Always smoke outside.
• Use large, deep ashtrays on sturdy surfaces
• Douse cigarettes and cigar butts with water before throwing them in the trash.
Prevent fires caused by candles
• Never leave burning candles unattended. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.
• Always use stable candle holders made of material that will not catch fire, such as metal, glass etc.
• Blow out candles when you leave the room.
Prevent fires caused by flammable materials and other products
• Store all flammable material (like petrol, etc) in a garage in containers that have been approved for storages.
• Close the lid of all dangerous products and put them away after usage.
• Store them away from the home and in a safe place with a lock.
• Don’t plug too many appliances at once.
• Always make sure your electric blanket is turned off before getting into bed.
Keep your family safe at home
• Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect so have a family fire drill at least twice a year.
• Know how to put out a fire by sliding a lid over the flames.
• Teach each family member to “Stop, Drop and Roll” just in case clothing catches fire while escaping.
• Consider having a home fire extinguisher system installed in your house.
• Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
