FIRE PROOF YOUR HOME

Small fires are more common, causing serious injuries and extensive damage to property and possessions. By following a few simple steps and maintaining a basic level of awareness you can considerably reduce the chances of fire in your home.

The following tips will help keep your family and home safe.

• Keep the exits from your home clear so that people can escape if there is a fire. If staying in an apartment complex, ensure that there is a fire evacuation plan for the building and fire escape routes are clear and not used to store household items.
• Take extra care in the kitchen – accidents while cooking account for over half of fires in homes. Don't leave cooking unattended. Fire starts when your attention stops.
• Never leave young children alone in the kitchen.Keep matches and lighters where children can't see or reach them.
• Always switch off regulators of cooking gas cylinders when you go to sleep at night and when are away from home.
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil. If the pan does catch fire do not move it and never throw water on it. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so or cover it with a non combustible material to extinguish the fire and leave it to cool for at least 30 minutes.
• Never leave lit candles in rooms that nobody is in or in rooms where children are on their own. Make sure candles are in secure holders on a surface that doesn't burn and are away from any materials that could burn.
• Are you a smoker? Make sure cigarettes are stubbed out properly and are disposed of carefully, and never smoke in bed. Take special care when you're tired or when you've been drinking.
• Don't overload electrical sockets. Remember one plug for one socket.
• Don't leave the TV or other electrical appliances on standby as this could cause a fire. Always switch it off and unplug when it's not in use.