Simple fire safety tips

The City Of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has put together the following winter safety precautions to make sure that all Joburg residents are safe.

Candle safety

– Never leave a child unattended in room with a candle

– Store candles, matches and lighters away from children’s reach

– Try to avoid carrying a lit candle

– Do not use a candle in a confined space

– Never use a candle for a light when checking paraffin, gas heaters and generators

– Do not use a candle to light stoves

– Place candles away from curtains

– Extinguish the flame when you leave the house or go to sleep

Safe Candle in a jar

– Fill a quarter of a jar with dry sand

– Cut candle to size, so that the flame will still be in the jar.

– Place candle firmly into the sand.

– Light candle with another candle.

– Place candle on a safe stable surface.

A lit candle in a jar gives off more light and is effective for about three hours. It is also safer because the candle will die out in the sand.

Paraffin safety

– Always turn your paraffin stove and lamp off when you leave house even if it’s for a few minutes

– Never use water to put out a paraffin fire. Always keep a bucket of sand or a fire extinguisher at home

– Keep paraffin, matches and lighters away from children’s reach and never store paraffin near matches, lighters or lit paraffin appliance

– When cooking with paraffin leave a window open to let out the fumes

– Always keep paraffin stoves and lamps on a flat surface so they won’t fall and start a fire

– Never leave a paraffin appliance unattended. It only takes a second for a gust of wind, pet or child to knock over a light or stove.

Cooking safety

Cooking is the second largest cause of fires at home. Take the following precautions to avoid a fire:

– Hang pot holders and spice racks away from the stove as they could catch fire. This also prevents you from having to lean over the stove

– Wear short sleeves when cooking as long sleeves can catch fire or snag on handles of cookware

– Keep grillers, ovens and ventilation ducts free of grease

Heaters

– Have a space of least 90 centimetres between the heater and wall objects

– Cover your fireplace with a screen to catch stray sparks

– Keep clothing away from heaters and flames

– Make sure there’s enough ventilation

– Wait for heater to be cooled before moving it

– Avoid using an electric heater in damp or wet areas

Smoking

– Never smoke in bed. Get up and sit where you are less likely to doze off.

– Use large metal or glass ashtrays.

– Before you go to bed, check floors and furniture for dropped cigarette or embers.

– Dump ashtrays into empty metal containers.

– Never light cigarettes, pipes or cigars near flammable liquids, such as petrol, paint thinners, or nail polish remover.

Should a fire break out, contact EMS on 10177 from a landline or 112 from a cellphone.

@MaxineBecket