Take note of fire safety tips
JOBURG - Business and homeowners need to clue up on fire safety to avoid, or deal with, a fire.
Clive Humphrey, managing director of ADT central region, said that every year more and more businesses and houses are lost to fire around South Africa.
He warned that fire moves and spreads quickly and it generally takes less than 30 seconds for a small flame to escalate into a major fire.
“It is important to realise that it is not only the flames that present a danger when a fire breaks out,” Humphrey said. “The heat and harmful gas emitted can often be even more life-threatening.”
He offered some tips on fire safety and encouraged business and homeowners to share them:
– Do not overload electrical sockets or run electrical cords under carpets.
– Develop and practice an escape plan and always plan two ways out of every room.
– Display your local fire department telephone number near the phone and also memorise it.
– If you smell or see smoke, crawl on the floor to the nearest exit.
– Never open a door that is hot to the touch.
– Alert or wake everybody in the building as quickly as possible.
– If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop and roll.
– Never re-enter the premises for personal belongings.
– Only tackle the fire if it is safe to do so.
Humphrey also suggested that businesses and households be equipped with at least smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.
