How to survive the winter months

A smouldering fire emitting deadly smoke containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide can be fatal, especially if the fire is lit in a confined space. Your life and those of the people you love can be placed in high risk, as a fire like this can be everyone’s worst nightmare.

Winter brings its own unique set of safety challenges to everyone, especially those living in informal settlements, due to the highly combustible building materials used to construct such dwellings. The narrow spacing between shacks contributes to several structures being consumed raging flames all at the same time.

Motorists can also be at high risk due to dense smoke from the burning dry vegetation next to the major routes and freeways.

The wind poses another challenge, as it could blow smoke from a veld fire across the road and obscure motorists’ vision, which can lead to fatal road accidents.

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services (DEMS) would like to convey the following safety guidelines to members of the community as the temperature drops.

Fire safety is a priority in preserving life and property. “Do not allow everything you own to perish in flames!”

Most fires are caused by:

· Cigarettes

· Worn-out electrical cords

· Overloaded electrical plugs

· Short-circuited plugs

· Illegal electricity connections

· Poor storage and usage of flammable liquids and chemicals, spontaneous combustibles and sometimes heating, cooking and lighting sources.

Smoking

Careless handling of cigarettes is a main fire risk.

Safety precautions for smoking:

· Never light a cigarette, a pipe or a cigar near flammable liquids.

· Never throw a burning cigarette out of a moving or stationary vehicle.

· Never smoke in bed.

· Use large metal or glass ashtrays.

· Never smoke in bed while under strong medication or when under the influence of alcohol.

· Never smoke in bed when tired.

Heating sources

· Switch off or remove all types of heating sources before going to bed (heaters, fireplaces and braziers).

· Switch all heaters off in the absence of adults.

· Avoid using electrical heaters in a wet/damp environment.

· Wait until the heater has cooled off before moving or refilling it (paraffin).

· Keep a space of approximately one metre between the heater and household contents such as bedding and other objects.

· Provide ventilation to allow in fresh air and let the smoke escape.

Safety precautions for cooking

· Do not throw water on an oil fire, paraffin fire or electric appliances.

· Always keep the pot lid or blanket nearby to smother flames.

· When cooking on a paraffin stove, leave a window open to let out the fumes (ventilation).

· Use the appropriate pot size on a paraffin stove.

· Keep fires away from other flammable liquids or gases.

· When you pour paraffin into a lamp or stove, use a funnel, not a cup. A funnel prevents spillages.

· Only refill paraffin stoves when cold.

· Always keep paraffin stoves and other appliances on a flat surface so they won’t fall and start a fire.

· Keep the burning stove away from items such as curtains next to the windows.

· Always turn your stove and lamp off when you leave home or when they’re out of sight.

· Never leave young children alone with a burning paraffin appliance.

· If your clothing catches fire, drop to the ground and roll over to put out the flames (Stop, Drop and Roll).

· If someone else is on fire, cover them with a blanket.

· Ensure that an adult is always present in the kitchen when food is being prepared.

· Store all flammable liquids in safe and sealed containers and away from heat.

· Always get a qualified person to repair your appliances (electrical, gas and paraffin).

Safety precautions for lighting sources

Candles:

· Cut candles shorter.

· Use the appropriate candle-holders’ half filled with water/sand. Avoid plates or saucers as these are still far too common practices.

· Put the candle in the centre of the table. Avoid putting it next to open windows.

· Place it out of reach of children.

Matches and lighters:

· Matches and lighters are not toys. Keep them out of the reach of children.

· Know where your children are at all times.

· Most fires are deliberately caused by juveniles.

General safety

· Avoid throwing lit cigarettes butts on the dry vegetation. They can cause grass or veld fires.

· All portable electrical appliances, such as hairdryers, should be switched off during load shedding in case the power is restored in the absence of adults.

· Domestic electrical appliances, such as televisions, should also be switched off during load shedding.

· Thatched roofs are highly flammable and need to be treated with fire retardants, because hot ash from veld fires in the vicinity might spark a blaze and the possibility of the roof igniting is high.

· Firebreaks are highly recommended.

· Keep grass low, including grass near thatched roofs.

· The Veld and Forest Fire Act 1989 (act 101 of 1989) and Environmental Management Act, 1989 (Act 73 of 1989) both state that no person may within the area, make an open, uncontrollable or unattended fire or permit a fire to be made in such a place and/or in such a manner as to pose a real or potentially real threat to any human being, animal, building and premises or property.

· Buy and install smoke alarms for every room of your home.

· Test smoke alarms monthly.

· Practise fire drills with your family.

· Install a carbon monoxide detector outside bedrooms.

EMERGENCY NUMBER: 10177

National Toll-Free Number 112

Life-Threatening Ekurhuleni Emergency Line: 011 458 0911

Also Read: Fire robs family of all they own