TEN TIPS FOR FIRE SAFETY
- Crawl low under smoke to your exit: If you have to escape a fire through smoke, crawl low, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimetres) above the floor, where the air is cleaner.
- Plan your escape: Make a home escape plan and hold regular fire drills so everyone in your household knows what to do in a fire emergency. When escaping a fire, feel the cracks around doors with the back of your hand before opening them. If they’re warm, try another escape route.
- Install smoke alarms: Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, inside and outside of the bedrooms. Test them once a month, and replace their batteries once a year. Smoke alarms more than ten years old should be replaced.
- Be careful with smoking materials: Never smoke in bed or when you’re drowsy or have been drinking or taking medication.
Install an automatic home fire sprinkler system: Automatic fire sprinkler systems control or extinguish fires in less time than it takes for the fire department to arrive. Consider installing a system in your home. - Use electricity safely: Replace damaged electrical cords and repair appliances that smell, smoke or overheat.
- Cook safely: Never leave cooking unattended, and keep cooking areas clean and uncluttered.
- Space Heaters need space: Keep portable and space heaters at least three feet (one meter) from anything that can burn. Fuel fired space heaters also need a supply of fresh air.
- Keep matches and lighters out of sight: Keep matches and lighters away from children, stored up high in a locked cabinet. Don’t become one of those parents who thought “my child would not play with it”.
- Stop, drop, and roll if your clothes catch fire: If your clothing catches fire, stop, don’t run. Drop to the ground. And roll over and over to smother the flames. Cool any burns with clean water only and call for help. Do not put anything on a burn other than clean water to cool it and a dressing, then see your doctor.
(Source : Prince Albert Fire Dept.)
Help the Firemen to Help You Fireman is your friend: –
- Give way to fire engines to enable them to reach at the incident quickly.
- Allow them to use your telephone to communicate with the control room.
- Don’t park your cars / truck close to fire hydrants / underground static water tanks.
- Guide firemen to water sources i.e. Tube wells, ponds, static tanks etc. in case of fire.