What happens if there is a fire?

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape? During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. Learn what else to do to keep your loved ones safe!

Our most recent fire tragedy in Pretoria North was in Wolmer where a man sadly lost his life... read more here: 

https://rekordnorth.co.za/161558/family-loses-everything-in-north-house-fire/    

Post dated 11/10/2019

Top General Tips for Fire Safety

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. 

Test smoke alarms every month. If they’re not working, change the batteries.

Talk with all family members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL FOR HELP. Never go back inside for anything or anyone.

If a Fire Starts:

• Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher.
• Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone number.

Tel : 10177 from your mobile

• Yell "Fire!" several times and go outside right away. If you live in a building with elevators, use the stairs. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.
• If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
• If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you.
• If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
• Once you are outside, go to your meeting place and then send one person to call the fire department. If you cannot get to your meeting place, follow your family emergency communication plan.

If your clothes catch on fire:

• Stop what you’re doing.
• Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can.
• Roll over and over or back and forth until the flames go out. Running will only make the fire burn faster.

THEN:

Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin with water for three to five minutes. Call for medical attention.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER USE:

• Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. An extinguisher rated “A-B-C” is recommended for home use. Many fire extinguisher models are designed for one-time use and cannot be recharged.

• Get training from the fire department or a fire extinguisher manufacturer. Fire extinguishers from various manufacturers operate in different ways and there is no time to read directions during an emergency. Only adults should handle and use extinguishers.

• Install extinguishers high on the wall, near an exit, and away from heat sources.Extinguishers should be easily accessible to adults trained to use them, and kept away from children's curious hands. Heat may make the contents less effective or cause the extinguisher to lose its charge more quickly.

• If you try to use a fire extinguisher on a fire and the fire does not immediately die down, drop the extinguisher and get out. Most portable extinguishers empty in 8 seconds.

• Look at your fire extinguisher to ensure that it is properly charged. Fire extinguishers will not work properly if they are not properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check that there is proper pressure. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacing or recharging fire extinguishers. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged, or corroded, replace it or have it professionally serviced.

 

Before you begin to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher, be sure that:

• Everyone has left or is leaving the home.

• The fire department has been called.

• The fire is small and not spreading.

• Your back is to an exit you can use quickly.

• There is not much smoke in the room.

Remember the word PASS when using a fire extinguisher:

Remember the word PASS when using a fire extinguisher:

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY : 

Advertise on our blog from only R10 per month per advert per section your services would fall under across all our categories. 

To apply email Crime Busters RSA 

Crimebustersrsa@gmail.com