Fight or flight: what to do in a fire emergency
Trevor Stevens, the divisional commander of eThekwini Fire Department, gave some useful tips on dealing with a fire emergency at the Claredon Neighbourhood Watch's monthly meeting last week.
IT is human nature to think that we will be adequately prepared in the case of an emergency, and that we know what steps to follow in order to deal with said emergency.
But some residents are still making grave mistakes, especially when confronted with a fire emergency, said Trevor Stevens, divisional commander of eThekwini Fire Department, when he spoke at the Claredon Neighbourhood Watch’s monthly meeting recently.
Stevens explained that one of the most common mistakes he has encountered with fire emergencies is the way people deal with burn wounds. “It is a common misconception that butter, oil or ointment will soothe a burn wound, and people often make the mistake of immediately applying these to burn wounds. The wound it still hot at that stage; and by applying oil or even ointment, the liquid will heat up and continue to burn the wound,” he said.
According to the dedicated fire fighter water is the ideal treatment for any burn wound. “Fresh, cold water does wonders for burn wounds. In cases of serious burns, ice water should be used. Keep the wound cold for at least 20 minutes,” he added.
Stevens also urged residents to ensure that keys are kept in a fixed and easily accessible place. Residents are in danger of getting trapped inside their homes should they need to run around in search of keys during a fire. More than 99 per cent of fire related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, he said.
Other tips that were given at the talk include:
– Ensure that your hosepipe is long enough to reach inside your home.
– If you or a family member catches fire, remember to stop, drop and roll.
– If you are faced with an electrical fire do not use water in an attempt to douse the flames, rather use a fire extinguisher.
– If water is used it could conduct electricity and the person dousing the flames could inadvertently experience an electrical shock.
– Water should also not be used to extinguish cooking fires. Grease and oil repels water, causing it to spatter, which could spread the fire.
– Use a fire extinguisher or sprinkle baking soda onto the base of the fire.
– The aim is always to suffocate the flames. Cover the pot with a lid; close the microwave or oven, or even use a blanket to smother the flames. The best solution, however, is to use a fire extinguisher. Always aim for the base of the flames.
– In case of a fire emergency phone the fire department first, so that they can quickly respond to the flames. Contact 031 361 0000.
