The winter season is upon us and cold weather conditions are being experienced across the country.
The plea from Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services is that people should be extra cautious when dealing with household energy sources.
They have issued some useful safety tips to communities, in an effort to save lives and properties:
- Safe usage of heaters:
Leaving heaters unmonitored is still a far too common practice by most people, either at home or work.
People still believe that when they arrive in their offices or homes they should find them warm already and, subsequent to that, lots of properties and lives are lost due to fires.
- Safety tips:
- Switch off all the heaters and air-conditioners in the absence of an adult.
- Never leave heaters or air-conditioners on overnight unmonitored.
- Heaters should at all times be utilised in the presence of adults or a responsible person.
- Placement of the heater should be centralised within the room, away from any combustibles.
- Switch off all heaters before going to sleep. Blankets can fall onto the heater and catch fire.
- Do not dry clothes using a heater. The practice is a potential fire hazard.
- Keep the room or house ventilated when using paraffin heaters, as they emit toxic fumes.
- Refill the paraffin heater prior to usage.
- Use the approved refilling equipment, such as a liquid funnel.
- Any electrical repairs should be done by a qualified electrician.
- Gas cylinders should be refilled at registered gas dealers.
- Avoid any gas leakage. Check the O-ring on the valve.
- Avoid using other pipes like hosepipes. Always use approved gas pipes.
- Safe usage of a brazier (umbawula):
Many people are still using braziers as a source of heat in areas without an electrical supply.
Braziers are used mostly for cooking and finally used as a heating source.
The dangers relating to this is that braziers emit toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide which are silent killers.
People in the room where the brazier is placed, don`t smell any gas.
The gas particles attach themselves on the circulatory system (haemoglobin) preventing oxygen from being circulated and as a result the patient could fall unconscious or even die.
- Safety tips:
- Keep the room or house adequately ventilated.
- Take the brazier outside when preparing to sleep.
- Never leave a brazier on, always extinguish the coals with water when not in use.
- What to do in case of fire:
- Call Emergency Services on the toll free numbers — 10177 or 112.
- Ekurhuleni Emergency Services can also be contacted on 011 458-0911.
- Electric heaters: switch off the power supply.
- Paraffin heaters: use sand or a dry chemical powder fire extinguisher.
- Gas heaters: turn off the valve and use a damp cloth to put out the flames.
- Once you are out of the house or building, stay out, never go back into the house or office.
