Fire Safety in and around Your Home

Belinda Kersten

So, ahead of the upcoming Winter months, you've got visions of spending your evenings, curled up in front of the fire with a good book? Before you break out the Horlicks and wrestle the cat for your favourite armchair, consider the following: How fire-safe is your home, do you have a plan in place if the flames REALLY hit the fan?

According to the statistics, fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths, and we all know how quickly fires can spread in our dry climate during the winter months. Fire safety and survival begin with everyone in your household being prepared. Follow these safety measures to reduce the chance of fire in your home:

Prevent Fires Caused by Heating:

• Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
• Teach children to tell you immediately if they find matches or a lighter.
• Don't allow children to play around stoves and heaters.
• If you have toddlers, consider putting a guard rail in front of your heater and stove top.
• Keep heaters at least three feet away from things that can burn, such as curtains or stacks of newspaper. Always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Fireplaces should be used with great caution and under adult supervision only. Always make sure that the fire is put out before you go to sleep.
• Have a service person inspect chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves and central furnaces once a year. Have them cleaned when necessary.
• Keep things that can burn away from your fireplace and keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace.
• Owners of smallholdings must have firebreaks around their property and large open areas in order to minimise the risk of fires spreading if they occur.
• Extinguish any open fire before you leave an area.

Prevent Fires Caused by Cooking:

• Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
• Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the stove top.
• Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot plate and catch on fire.
• Know how to put out a small pan fire by sliding a lid over the flames.
• Never leave braais or barbecue grills unattended while in use.
• Keep braais at least ten feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
• Always stay by the braai when cooking.

Prevent Fires Caused by Smoking:

• Use “fire-safe” cigarettes and smoke outside.
• Use large, deep ashtrays on sturdy surfaces like a table.
• Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.

Prevent Fires Caused by Candles:

• Never leave burning candles unattended. Do not allow children to keep candles or incense in their rooms.
• Always use stable, candle holders made of material that won’t catch fire, such as metal, glass, etc.
• Blow out candles when adults leave the room.

Prevent Fires Caused by Petrol, Gas and Other Products:

• Store petrol in a garage or shed in a container approved for petroleum storage.
• Never bring or use petrol indoors; and use it as a motor fuel only.
• Close the lid on all dangerous products and put them away after using them.
• Store them away from the home and in a safe place with a lock.
• Make sure that the pipes and connections of gas appliances are in good working order before you ignite the appliance. 
• Gas cylinders must be kept in a well-ventilated area, preferably preferably separate and on its own.

Prevent Electrical Fires:

• Electrical wires must be installed by a qualified electrician. No electrical wires should run under carpets.
• Unplug electrical appliances if they are going to be left unattended for a long period.
• Switch off geysers and stoves at the main switch if you are going to be away from home for a long period.
• Use heaters with great caution and unplug them before you go to sleep or leave the area where they are used.
• Heaters should not be used to dry clothes and must be positioned away from any flammable material when switched on. 
• Switch off electrical blankets at the wall plug when you go to sleep and unplug them if you leave the house.
• If a power failure occurs in your area, turn off all appliances. 

Keep Your Family Safe At Home

When fire strikes, everything happens very fast, so make your fire emergency plan NOW before you need it.

• Make a fire escape plan for your family. Find two exits out of every room. Pick a meeting place outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
• Teach children never to go back in the house after they escape. Teach them not to hide under beds or in closets.
• Take your children to nearby fire station to see the equipment that they use. That way they won't be frightened of fire fighters in an emergency.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. For the best detection and notification protection, install both ionization- and photoelectric-type smoke alarms. Some models provide dual coverage. The type will be printed on the box or package. Put them inside or near every bedroom. Test them monthly to make sure they work. Put in new batteries once a year.
• Teach every family member to “Stop, Drop, Roll and Cool” if clothes catch fire by dropping immediately to the ground, crossing hands over your chest and rolling over and over or back and forth to put out the flames. Cool the burned area with cool water and seek medical attention for serious burns.
• Consider having a home fire sprinkler system installed in your new home, or when you remodel.
• Learn how and when to use a fire extinguisher.
• If you have a fire in your home, once you get out, stay out. Do not go back inside for any reason.
• Make sure that emergency numbers are easily accessible in case of any emergency.

Smoke Detectors:

Most home fire deaths happen between 10 h00 at night and 6 in the morning. Many victims die because of smoke and toxic gases, and not fire itself. Smoke detectors can wake you and give you time to escape by sounding an alarm once there is a fire in the house.

Buying detectors: Ensure that smoke detectors comply with acceptable safety standards.

Placing detectors: Put a smoke detector on every level of your home, including the garage/ workshop and near bedrooms. Locate them either on the ceiling or 15 to 30 centimeters below the ceiling on the wall. Keep them away from air vents.

Testing detectors: Test the detector batteries once a month. Press the test button with a broom handle or a similar instrument and replace the batteries once a year.

Maintenance of detectors: Vacuum the grillwork on the detector periodically to keep it dust free and test the batteries once a month.

Suppliers: Elvey Regal Security

What To Do If You Have Fire In Your Home

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, a fire can break out in your home. Here are a step by step instructions on how to handle a fire emergency:

• Keep your bedroom doors closed at night. Doors can hold back smoke and fire. This allows you more time to escape.
• If a alarm sounds, roll out of bed. If there is smoke in the room, get below it. Make your way to the door by crawling.
• Use the back of your hand to feel for heat on the highest point of the door you can reach.
• If the door feels cool, open it just a crack to check for smoke .If there is no smoke, follow your usual exit route. Test all doors before you open them on your way out, Close them behind you as you go.
• Go directly to a pre-determined meeting place. Once you are outside, never go back in the building.
• Use a neighbours phone to call for emergency help. Give the location of the fire. Don't hang up until the operator finished asking questions.
• If your bedroom door is hot when you test it, use your alternative exit (window).
• If there's a phone, call the emergency number. Tell the operator where you are in the building.
• Block the cracks around the door with rugs or towels to keep out smoke.
• If your clothing catches fire, don't run. Stop where you are, drop to the floor and roll to put out the flame.

Fighting small fires:

Report any fire immediately, even a small one.

• Use the right fire extinguisher.
• Stay 2 - 3 meters from the fire.
• To operate it, remember the word PASS:
 
   Pull the pin (and release the lock)
   Aim low.
   Squeeze the lever slowly.
   Sweep the spray from side to side

Fire extinguishers:

Fire extinguishers are your first line of defense in case of fires.

• Keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your home, especially in or near the kitchen.
• Know the location of the closest fire extinguisher.
• Find how the extinguisher works before you need it,
• Learn which fire extinguisher to use on what kind of fire e.g. Chemical, oil, electrical or gas etc. Many fire extinguishers are rated for more than one kind of fire.
• Inspect the extinguishers every month to make sure they are full and ready to use.

Suppliers: Hemisphere  Action Training

REMEMBER:

Few people are burnt to death in fires. Most people die from smoke and poisonous gases. Make sure you have an escape plan to guard you home and your family against fire. The purest air is closest to the floor.


Emergency services: SA Emergency Services Institute: Emergency Numbers  SABest Emergency Services
For more info on home safety visit: The Home Safety Council  Eskom