MOST people do not know how to act appropriately when a fire occurs, resulting in severe injuries or serious burns.
Tips for when a fire breaks out:
• Dial 10177 or 112 to report the fire.
• If the fire is wood, paper or rubbish, use water or sand to extinguish it.
• If the fire is electrical, try to turn off the main switch. Do not use water to extinguish it.
• If the cause of the fire is petrol, oil or paint, use sand or dry powder to extinguish.
• If a frying pan or pot of oil on the stove catches alight, use a large lid and place on top of the frying pan or pot. Do not use water. Switch off the stove and main switch.
• If you get burned by flames, dry heat, stove or heaters, place the burnt area in cold water or put ice in a towel and place on burnt area\s. Go to a doctor or hospital.
• If a person’s clothing catches alight, roll them in a blanket or carpet and spray with a garden hose. Do not remove burnt clothing.
• In the case of smoke inhalation, get the person outside in the fresh air. Let them sit upright and call the fire department or an ambulance.
• Dial 10177 or 011 375 5911 on a landline or 112 on your cell phone for free. Tell the call taker what the emergency is. If it is fire: what is burning and where. Provide the house or flat number, building name, street name and a nearby landmark like a shopping centre, school, church or petrol station. Furthermore provide your suburb, your name and contact telephone number. If phoning from a public phone leave someone by the phone in case the fire\ambulance crew needs directions. If the call is a medical emergency state what the medical condition is and, if possible, a medical history: is the patient conscious\unconscious, is the patient bleeding and where, how old is the patient and whether male or female?
Emergency numbers:
• Turffontein Fire Station: 011 683 2219\2266
• Kibler Park Fire Station: 011 943 4276.
• JHB Water: 011 375 5555.
• JHB City Power: 011 870 3885
• JHB Road agency: 011 833 9783
• JHB Metro Police: 011 375 5911
• Cansa: 011 726 4210
• Fire Safety: 011 407 6374
• ChildLine: 0800 055 555
• Booysens SAPS: 011 433 5210
• Mondeor SAPS: 011 433 5400
• Moffatview SAPS: 011 405 1500
• South Rand Hospital: 011 435 0022
• Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital: 011 933 8000
• Netcare Mulbarton Hospital: 011 682 4300
• Netcare Union Hospital: 011 724 2000
• Netcare Garden City Hospital: 011 495 5000
• Netcare 911: 082 911
• ER24: 084 124
• Lifeline: 0861 322 322
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
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