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.
