Safety at Home - Fire
Virtually all indoor and outdoor areas can suddenly become disaster areas.
Being aware of the potential dangers in and around your home can prevent mishaps
and may even save a life.
Fire and Smoke
Most homes are not subject to the stringent fire regulations of public buildings, offices and factories. If a serious fire should start in your home, forget the building and your possesions, but get all the people and pets out fast and then call the fire brigade. The chances of you reaching safety will be greatly enhanced if you consider the following points:
- Are the emergency numbers of the fire brigade, ambulance, doctor and police clearly displayed near the telephone?
- Is your home so secured with anti-burglar devices, guards or doors, that nobody can get out? Make sure that an escape route is available.
- Are there smoke detectors to warn a sleeping family of a spreading fire, and do the devices have a built in light to guide people through the smokey murkiness?
- Are there portable fire extinguishers suitable for most types of fire at strategic points and are they regulary checked and serviced? Do all family members know how to use them?
- Is there a fire blanket in the kitchen to smother flames from burning cooking oil or fat on a stove? It can also be used to wrap around a person whose clothing has caught alight.
- If your house is a double storey, is there an emergency escape ladder when all other top floor routes are blocked with flames and smoke?
- Wrapped in a woolen blanket, or wearing heavy woolen clothing with a wet towel over the head and face can offer protection if a person has to storm through flames to reach safety.
- Do you have a fire resistant safe for valuable documents and smaller personal effects?
- Are containers filled with highly flammable liquids securely sealed and safely stored away from a heat source? And are they out of reach of inquisitive kids?
- When last have you checked that all leads, lights and plug sockets are undamaged with no open wiring, fraying, cracks or blackened patches? Are all the switches working without arcing? An earth leakage unit will protect against accidental shocks but no guarantee against electrical sparks that can cause a serious fire.
- Do you, or any of your family members know first aid to treat cuts, burns, broken limbs or shock? And do check if your first aid kit contains the essentials as recommended by a professional in health matters.
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