What are safety measures to take when there is a fire? What are common causes of fire accidents in Singapore and how can you prevent them? Learn about fire safety tips here
Do you remember the news about a fire at a residential tower in London? It is numbing that more than a dozen lives were lost in something that could have been entirely avoided.
As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure that our loved ones are safe. Luckily, Singapore has strict norms when it comes to fire safety in buildings, both commercial and residential. That said, it is also our responsibility as citizens and parents to spot fire hazards and avoid domestic fires.
In this article, we give you tips on how to practice fire safety in your home: how to avoid fires, and in the unfortunate event of one, how to come out safe and unharmed.
1. Check your house for fire safety
Image source: iStock
It is estimated that 60% of domestic fires originate in the kitchen. According to Ms LiLi Pan, Director of Fire Guard, a fire protection company in Singapore, the most common causes of fire accidents in Singapore are unattended cooking and electrical fires (from personal mobility devices and power-assisted bicycles).
However, anything and everything in the house could cause or spread fire (including water, if it is an oil-fueled fire). There are some rules that you should follow in the kitchen. Here is a list of things you should check at least every month, if not more frequently.
Kitchen
“Make it a habit not to leave cooking unattended even for a brief moment and not to put raw food with water into a pan heated with oil,” said LiLi.
- Ensure that you have a working smoke detector alarm system in place.
- Check the tubing of the cooking gas for signs of wear and tear.
- Do not store more than one LPG cylinder in the kitchen.
- Use fire-resistant plywood for furnishing the house, and the kitchen in particular.
Bedroom
- Do not smoke inside the house, especially when you are going to sleep.
- Keep the candles at a safe distance from the bed, carpet, and curtains. Extinguish them before sleeping.
- Use extension sockets with safety marks instead of overburdening one electric outlet.
Rest of the house
- Switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
- Don’t forget to unplug the iron after use.
- Use an electrician instead of undertaking any electrical work on your own at home.
- If you do, ensure that you use a good quality insulation tape.
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy at home if there is none on your floor.
- Do not throw flammable things down the refuse chute.
- Keep flammables like matches, lighters, out of reach of the children.
“Make sure not to charge batteries and devices overnight, switch appliances off when not in use and ensure all electrical plugs used have a Safety Mark,” reminded LiLi.
2. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguishers have evolved over the last 50 years and have become easier to operate as well. However, there is no time to read the instructions in the event of a fire. So, educate yourself and your family, including older children about the use of a fire extinguisher as soon as possible.
“Having a fire extinguisher at home means that you will be able to respond to a small fire swiftly before they escalate.
This may help to prevent significant damage to property, belongings, and lives. It will also give the user more time to evacuate or seek help,” said LiLi.
If you have a fire extinguisher at home, replace it regularly as indicated on the cylinder. Here is a list of the Types of Fire Extinguishers that you can use.
“Every household should be equipped with a Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher (to extinguisher fire), Smoke Detector (to alert you of a fire), and a Fire Blanket (to throw over a fire or wrap around oneself to escape from the fire),” LiLi added.
Pictured above is the Home Fire Safety Kit. It consists of:
- 2KG AB Dry Power Fire Extinguisher
- Fire Blanket (1.8m by 1.8m)
- Home Fire Alarm Device (10 Years)
3. Do not block the fire escapes
The fire escapes and the stairs should be kept clear of everything. So don’t litter near the fire escapes. If you find that the fire escapes are locked, bring it to the notice of your residential management. If you can, arrange for a lecture on fire safety every year. A detailed list of posters on fire safety is available at the end of this article. Do spend time going through them once.
4. Educate the family about fire evacuation procedure
Fire can happen anytime. There must be an escape plan ready for your family. Here are the things you need to ensure.
- Take the fire drills seriously.
- Everybody should know the shortest and the safest way out of the building.
- No one is to use the lifts.
- If a child spots a fire, they should tell an adult immediately.
- It is not the time to pick up valuables. Just run out of the building to the fire assembly area.
- In the event of a fire, the most effective way out is to lay low and move.
- Plan an escape route. Ensure that the route is not blocked. And figure out an alternate escape route if the original escape route is inaccessible.
5. Unless you are trapped, exit by the stairs, avoid lifts
If you are in an unfamiliar place, like say, the mall, spot the fire exits. Play a game of ‘spot the fire exit’ with your children. This way, you know where the nearest stairs are.
When you are moving out of a building on fire, discipline is the key. Go in a single file with an adult at the lead and the children in tow. Avoid stampede. Keep calm and use your NS training to the best of your abilities.
6. What to do if you are trapped
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If you are trapped in your house, move to a room with a window. Call 995 and let them know your situation. Open the windows as widely as possible and shout for help. Do not attempt to jump. Do not throw anyone down. It is dangerous.
7. Rescue if you can but don’t be a hero
If you can, rescue those who need help. However, in the events of fire, the oxygen gets consumed faster and the chances of you fainting increase. So, if you can, rescue. If you cannot, just leave the building. This will help the experts in a way – one less fainted person to rescue from the building.
Mums and dads, here are a few resources from the SCDF website for your perusal. Read them and be prepared in case a fire breaks out.
School
Workplace
How to Educate Your Kids About Fire Safety
It is our responsibility to make sure our kids are safe in the event of a fire, and this includes talking to them about the importance of fire safety. The topic of fire prevention and safety may sound boring or scary to your children, but you need to point out that it’s something that can save their lives in case of emergency.
Here are LiLi’s suggestions on how you can discuss it with your little ones:
- Have discussions about the dangers of fire in a non-frightening manner. Encourage them to ask questions.
- Set clear rules such as not playing with lighters, staying away from stoves and candles, and not tampering with electrical outlets or appliances.
- Lead by example. Practice good fire safety habits, such as being cautious in the kitchen, properly extinguishing candles, and not overcharging appliances.
- Regularly reinforce the importance of fire prevention and keep the information fresh in their minds.
- Role-play scenarios on what to do in case of a fire.
Image source: iStock
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