EMS releases their winter safety campaign
The City of Johannesburg EMS has provided a few safety measures that residents can follow this winter to prevent fire incidents.
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi shared that during the winter season they respond to several fire incidents which are caused mainly by heating devices as residents try to keep warm.
With load shedding that has been very often too, many residents use candles at night to light up their homes. Some of the methods which residents use are said to be unsafe by EMS.
The City of Johannesburg EMS has provided a few safety measures that residents can follow this winter to prevent fire incidents.
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If you are using a candle this winter it is advised to fill a third of the jar with dry sand, cut the candle to size so that the flame will still be within the jar. A glass jar is said to give out more light and candles generally die out on the sand. Make sure to put the candle into the sand firmly and when you light it, make sure to place it away from children or any flammable items.
EMS says that residents should avoid walking with a lit candle and it is important to extinguish the flame when you go to sleep or when you leave the house.
“Smoke detectors saves lives. Most home fire fatalities occur at night while people are asleep. If a fire occurs in your home, your chances of survival are increased by 50% if smoke detectors are present and working,” says Mulaudzi.
Many residents in the community cannot afford to have smoke detectors installed in their homes but the EMS shared that it is very beneficial to have them.
If you use paraffin lamps, make sure the flame is protected. Put your paraffin stove on a flat surface where it can’t fall or get knocked over.
A big pot on a small stove can easily fall over and start a fire. Use safe containers to store paraffin for example; safety cap bottles.
“Through our Public Education Unit, we will be intensifying our public education efforts by empowering our residents with much-needed information about fire safety due to the Covid19 situation. We will be using our social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and all online platforms to encourage our residents to be safe this winter,” added Mulaudzi.
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