Fires can pose a serious threat to the safety of your home and family. It’s important to be prepared and informed about fire safety measures to prevent and handle fire emergencies effectively. Here are essential tips to protect yourself from fire hazards at home:

  1. Be Prepared: Keep a bucket of water and a bucket of sand ready to put out small fires before they spread. However, it’s crucial to prioritize your safety and not put yourself in the line of danger when attempting to extinguish a fire.
  2. Candle Safety: Always extinguish all candles before going to bed or leaving your house. Smoking in bed is also a dangerous fire hazard that should be avoided.
  3. Home Planning: Ensure that homes are built at least three meters apart to prevent fires from easily spreading. Additionally, keep flammable items such as mattresses, paraffin, and poisons safe and far away from young children. Use child safety caps on paraffin bottles to prevent accidental access.
  4. Fire Escape Plan: Every home need more than one way out in case of a fire emergency. Practice and educate your family members about the fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows how to evacuate safely.
  5. Child Safety: Many children get badly burned each year. Keep young children safe by ensuring that stoves are placed on a flat surface, away from drafts and flammable materials. Never leave cooking stoves unattended.
  6. Emergency Procedures: If a fire breaks out, remember to “Get down low and go, go, go!” to escape below the smoke. Help other people to get out and remember to “Stay out!”
  7. Handling Paraffin Fires: Do not attempt to put out paraffin fires with water. Special fire-extinguishing agents or a fire blanket should be used for paraffin fires.

Gas and Electricity Safety

In the event of a fire involving gas or electricity, it’s important to act fast and take the necessary precautions:

  1. Gas Fire Safety: If a gas fire occurs, immediately turn off the gas. Use a lid or a damp cloth to smother the flames. If you cannot turn off the gas, evacuate the area and stay out to avoid the risk of explosion.
  2. Electric Fire Safety: Turn off the electricity before attempting to put out any electric fires to prevent the risk of electrocution.

Call for help.

Know the relevant emergency numbers.  Call 107 from a landline or 112 from any cellular telephone.  

Provide the full address to the operator and give a landmark like a school or a nearby shop so that the emergency services can find the fire quickly.

 

By following these essential fire safety tips, you can reduce the risk of fire hazards at home and ensure the safety of your loved ones. Stay prepared, stay informed, and stay safe.