{"id":90837,"date":"2015-06-03T10:34:58","date_gmt":"2015-06-03T08:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=90837"},"modified":"2015-06-03T12:05:23","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T10:05:23","slug":"nine-handy-fire-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2015\/06\/03\/nine-handy-fire-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine handy fire safety tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year more and more businesses and houses are lost to fire around the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fire moves and spreads quickly, in fact, it generally takes less than 30 seconds for a small flame to escalate into a major fire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Business and homeowners need to be aware of the potential dangers of fire and ensure that their homes and businesses are equipped, not only to detect a fire but, also to ensure that everyone on the premises knows how to deal with a fire if one should break out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is important to realise that it is not only the flames that present a danger when a fire breaks out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cThe heat and harmful gas emitted can often be even more life threatening,\u201d said Theunis Kotze, ADT general manager inland region.<\/p>\n

He offered the following important tips on fire safety and encourages business owners and parents to share these with everyone working or residing on the premises (this includes children and domestic staff):\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Do not overload electrical sockets or run electrical cords under carpets.<\/p>\n

2. Develop and practice an escape plan \u2013 plan two ways out of every room.<\/p>\n

3. Display your local fire department telephone number near the phone, then memorise it.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 If you smell or see smoke, crawl on the floor to the nearest exit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Never open a door that is hot to the touch.<\/p>\n

6. Alert or wake everybody in the building as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 If your clothing catches fire \u2013 stop, drop and roll.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

8.Never re-enter the premises for personal belongings.<\/p>\n

9. Only tackle the fire if it is safe to do so.<\/p>\n

Kotze stresses that every business and household should be equipped with at least smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are products to suit every budget and for a minimal investment you will have a valuable early-warning system and the means to get a minor fire under control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe also highly recommend that you link your smoke detectors to an armed response service to ensure that the necessary help will be dispatched in the event of an emergency,\u201d Kotze said.<\/p>\n

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Other articles you may be interested in:<\/p>\n

Young boy saves woman from burning Elspark home<\/a><\/p>\n

Young hero speaks about saving woman from fire \u2014 Watch the video of the house burning<\/a><\/p>\n

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