Emergency Management Services provides winter safety tips
Alternative safe method to keep warm is wearing warm clothes and wrapping yourself with a warm blanket.
As the winter season is here, Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) reminds residents to take extra precautions.
DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi said the winter season is also dubbed the structural fire season.
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Last year GCN reports on a number of shack fires at Marathon informal settlement which resulted in the loss of lives.
“Understanding how to protect yourself, your loved ones and properties during cold winter season will make a difference in staying safe and alive,” said Ntladi.
“Although the knowledge and understanding of fire chemistry will not completely eliminate risks of fire development as others are deliberately caused, they will help to reduce the risks of life and property lost, inclusive of developing severe lung infections for those exposed to smoke inhalation which will ultimately require hospitalisation. It is therefore a good precautionary measure to engage fire safety practices,” he said.
“In the absence of electricity, many people use alternative means of heating, lighting and cooking. All these spell fire danger to both life and property,” explained Ntladi.
• Golden rule: During winter, there is definitely an increase in the usage of heaters. An alternative safe method to keep warm is wearing warm clothes and wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.
Heaters:
• Never leave the heaters unmonitored. This includes even when you are sleeping.
• Never leave children alone without responsible adult around heaters.
• Place heaters at least a meter away from combustibles (beddings, curtains, tablecloths, furniture).
• When using gas heaters or fireplaces, ensure adequate ventilation.
• Always switch off the heaters, fireplaces and air conditioners while leaving the room (home or office).
Braziers:
• Ensure that coals are burning adequately without smoke emission before placing in the house.
• Ensure that there is adequate ventilation so that carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and other toxic gases don’t harm anybody.
• Take the brazier outside when going to bed.
“Many lives and properties are lost due to fires caused accidently while trying to counteract the freezing temperatures.
“In case of an emergency, call the city`s Life Threatening Emergency Call Centre on (011) 458 0911; or 10177; or 112 numbers who will then dispatch the nearest rescue team,” said Ntladi.
