EMS launched its annual Winter Safety Campaign at the Zamimpilo Informal Settlement to curb the rise in fire-related injuries
City of Joburg EMS launches Winter Safety Campaign.
The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) launched its annual Winter Safety Campaign at the Zamimpilo Informal Settlement in an effort to curb the usual rise in fire-related injuries in informal settlements during the colder months.
Despite the significant reduction of 332 shack fires in the 2017/2018 financial year from over 500 during the 2016 winter season, EMS continues to strengthen its proactive fire safety measures in an effort to reduce these fire incidents.
These unforeseen circumstances are preventable if proper cooking and lighting equipment is used and households know how to identify any fire risks.
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EMS has also found a recent trend of damaging fires being caused during domestic disputes. Illegal electrical connections is another serious concern which often results in people, especially young people, being electrocuted and possible death.
The recent door-to-door campaign in Zamimpilo introduced basic fire safety education and 78 members of the community, most of whom were women, took part in the department’s Community Emergency Response Team programme.
They were trained in basic emergency response, fire safety, burn wound dressing, CPR, and the critical Bucket Brigade where community members form a human chain and use buckets of water or sand to distinguish fires.
Fires, especially in informal settlements, can lead to unnecessary deaths and loss of property, leaving communities in a vulnerable state.
I therefore urge residents of Johannesburg to heed some fire safety tips in their daily lives:
• Refrain from using cooking equipment, such as prime stoves, that are not SABS approved and can lead to explosions that start fires;
• Exercise care when highly flammable materials are used in open fires and braziers. These energy sources can lead to death especially when inhaled in toxic smoke;
• Place candles on proper candle holders or flat surface to prevent them from falling; and,
• Ensure electrical appliances are switched off and candles are blown out before going to bed.
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