Page 9 - Dainfern Precinct Living 5 2021

PRECINCT LIVING

Knowing what to do if a

fire breaks out in your

home can save lives and

mitigate the damage

caused to your property.

espite climate change involve flames – wood, anthracite, matter of minutes. This is why they
bringing us some gas, paraffin and biofuel fires; gas encourage residents to respond
welcome unseasonal stoves and ovens; pizza ovens; and quickly if they discover a fire that
rain from time to time, I candles. It's normally when we aren't cannot immediately be extinguished.
Dkeep reminding myself properly versed in the management
that winter on the Highveld is of a fire source, or we're distracted, One only has to think of incidents
normally dry and inhospitable. With that house fires get out of control. where entire homes have been
load-shedding an ever-present gutted to understand why it’s so
reality, we have to look for lots of According to Fire Ops SA, the essential to not only have access to
alternatives to keep ourselves warm, operators of the Fire Station at the a privately-run fire/rescue service, but
to keep the ‘lights on’ at night and Dainfern Golf Estate, house fires also be well-informed and trained
for cooking. Many of the alternatives can spread out of control within a in firefighting and coping with other

A QUICK QUIZ
SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE
SAFETY IN YOUR HOME: FOR YOU:
1. Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, starting with 1. You arrive home to find the babysitter
the basement, if you have one, and put together a schedule so and your toddler lying quietly on the
that you remember to test them regularly to make sure that they carpet. The babysitter has earphones
are all working. The good news is that Fire Ops SA say they can in her ears and you assume they
provide and fit smoke detectors for you. are both just napping. Your normally
2. Work out a fire escape plan and make sure that all members of boisterous puppy is asleep in the
your family and staff are thoroughly briefed on what to do if a fire passage. The room is icy cold because
starts. The most important strategy is to get everyone quickly the gas heater is off. There’s a bad
and safely out of the house if the fire looks like it’s out of control. smell in the air. What do you do?
3. Invest in fire extinguishers and make sure that every member A. Attempt to re-light the gas heater to
of the family and your staff know where to find them and how warm up the room?
to use them. Having a few fire blankets is also a good idea, as B. Open all of the windows to get the bad
these are handy to use if anyone’s clothes are on fire. smell out of the room?
4. Check that the cords of all your electrical appliances, and extension C. Examine the gas heater and other gas
cords, are in a good condition and aren’t damaged or frayed, as appliances for gas leaks?
damaged electrical wires could spark and set curtains or upholstery D. Get everyone out of the house and into
alight. Refrain from running the fresh air even though it’s bitterly
extension cords under carpets cold outside?
or across high traffic zones as E. Call for help?
they can become damaged If you answered A, chances are that you
over time. You should also and everyone in the house would by now
make sure that the extension be a very tragic part of history. You can’t
cords that you do use are able wake your child, babysitter and puppy.
to cope with the load required Why? Because LPG gas is heavier than
by the appliances that you air and they would have been breathing
are connecting to them – any in the gas, which rendered them
appliances that provide heat unconscious. Opening all of the windows,
should only be linked to heavy Invest shutting off all gas appliances, removing
duty extension cords and in a fire everyone from the house and calling for
should be disconnected after extinguiser emergency services (paramedics and the
use. fire brigade) would most likely be your
5. Keep cigarette lighters, best response in this instance.
matches and fire lighters out
of reach of children at all 2. Load-shedding hits you again, right
times. in the middle of frying chips on your
electric hob for a bunch of noisy kids.

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DPL