Do not keep the home fires burning

You can be caught in a fire at any time, so be prepared to deal with and prevent fires with these tips:

At home and at work:

• Install smoke alarms throughout your room at home and at the office. Ensure that there’s a working fire extinguisher nearby
• Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries
• Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
• If a fire occurs in your home, get out, stay out and call emergency services. It is not advisable to dash back into the house to collect things.

Candle safety tips:

• Keep candles away from children
• A child should not be left unattended in a room with a candle
• Store candles, matches and lighters away from the reach of children
• Do not use candles to light stoves
• A candle should not be used in a confined space
• Never go to bed or out with a candle still burning.

Paraffin:

• Put your paraffin stove on a flat surface where it can’t fall or get knocked over
• Use safe containers to store paraffin, that is, safety-cap bottles
• Switch off heaters and stoves at the wall plug before going to bed or out
• Always put out cigarettes carefully. Do not smoke in bed
• Never go to bed or out when a paraffin lamp is still burning.

Car fires:

• Pullover immediately
• If you smell something burning or see smoke coming from your hood, signal and pull safely to the side of the road
• Turn off your engine as this will stop the flow of fuel, which can prevent a full-blown fire from occurring
• All passengers and the driver need to evacuate the car immediately and move as far away from the car as possible
• Call emergency services.

For any life-threatening emergencies call 10177 or 112 from your cellphone.