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.
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