Fire Safety Measures

Fireworks Safety

Dos

1. Carefully read the fire safety instructions and precautions written on Fireworks.
2. Always keep a bucket of water and sand ready while igniting Fireworks.
3. Always immerse the used/exhausted Fireworks like sparkles, rockets into a bucket of water or dry loose sand.
4. Light Fireworks at arms length, and keeping your face away.
5. Close the windows and openings of your house properly to prevent ingress of lighted flying crackers.
6. Use only standard make fire crackers.
7. Elder's supervision is a must while children play with firecrackers.
8. It is safe to play fire crackers in open grounds and open places.
9. Rockets, flower pots and other flying crackers should not be displayed near thatched houses and hay stacks.
10. Firecrackers like sparklers should be lighted away from the body.
11. Wear tight cotton clothes while playing firecrackers.
12. Wear Shoes, spectacles for safety.
13. Show concern for old age people, children and women while playing crackers.
14. If you receive burn injuries accidentally, pour cold water until pain subsides and consult a doctor.

Don'ts

1. Never allow children to light Fireworks absence of elders.
2. Don't relight Fireworks that fail to ignite,
3. Don't light Fireworks very close to the buildings.
4. Don't leave lighted oil lamps, agarbattis or candles on the floor or near Fireworks.
5. Don't store scrap or any other combustible material in and around the buildings.
6. Don't allow fire crackers display inside the house.
7. Don't hold flower pots, atom bombs, ladies in hand during display.
8. Don't allow children near dangerous and high sounding firecrackers.
9. Don't display fire crackers near the cracker's shop.
10. Don't throw lighted fire crackers indiscriminately in to the open.
11. Don't relight or handle mal-functioning Fireworks.
12. Never ignite Fireworks in a closed container.
13. Rockets should not be launched in the congested area.

SAFETY TIPS FOR SURVIVAL

What to do:

In the event of a fire, always remember that time is precious and every second counts.  Follow the following tips:

1. Stay calm, don’t panic and don’t run.
2. Raise alarm and alert everyone in your premises.
3. Escape first and then call for help.
4. Use nearest available exit routes
5. While leaving the premises, close all doors and windows behind you if possible but must ensure that nobody is left behind and you are safe.
   Use only escape routes because they are built for the purpose.
6. Use staircases. “Don’t use Lifts”.
7. If you come to a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the door knob and the cracks between the door and door frame to make sure that the first is not on the other side.  If it feels hot, use your secondary escape route.  Even if the door feels cool, open it carefully.  Brace your shoulder against the door and open it slowly.  If heat and some come in, slam the door and make sure it is surely closed, then use your alternate escape route.
8. If you are trapped in smoke-logged area, lie down and keep your nose close to floor and crawl towards an exit point
9. If you become trapped in your room, close the door and block any gaps which might let some or fumes through.  Shout from the window to attract the attention of rescue team as well as others.

WHAT NOT TO DO

1. Never stand up in a fire, always craw low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered.
2. Never go back into a burning building for any reason
3. Teach children not to hide from firemen.  If someone is missing, tell the firemen.  They are equipped to perform rescues safely.
4. Don’t secure open fire and smoke check doors as they limit the spread of fire and smoke when in closed position.
5. Don’t be tempted to clutter the stairs, corridors and lobbies as they are your escape routes.
6. Never use lift in case of fire.  Always use staircase
7. Do not stop to collect belongings
8. Don’t shout or run.  This tends to cause panic to others.

FOLLOW FIRE PRECAUTIONS, PREVENT FIRE

ELECTRICAL FIRE PRECAUTIONS

Electricity is a major cause of Fire accidents.  About 60% fires are of electric origin on account of electric short circuit, over heating, overloading, use of non-standard appliances, illegal tapping of electric wires, improper electrical wiring, carelessness and ignorance, etc.  It can lead to serious fires and fatal accidents, if proper fire precautions are not followed.  Such fire incidents can be minimized, if adequate fire precautions are observed.

The main areas of electrical hazard in your home and how you can stop fire starting

PLUGS AND FLEXES

1. Some electrical appliances are designed to be left “ON” all the time.  Check the manufacturer’s instructions or if you are unsure, with the shop where you bought it.  All other electrical appliances should be switched off and unplugged when not in use.  Remove the plugs carefully, don’t remove them by pulling the flexes.
2. Use a three pin plug which conforms to be Indian Standards and carries the ISI marks.
3. Overloading the socket by using several adaptors into the one socket can cause it to overheat and catch fire.  Use a good quality adaptor and ensure it has the correct fuse.

WIRING A PLUG

1. Learn the wiring colours and make sure you follow the instructions as given by the manufacturers when fitting a plug.

FUSE/MCB

1. Always use the correct FUSE/MCB for the equipments you are using and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

COOKING GADGETS

1. Always make sure that saucepans are in a safe position.  Flexes from electrical equipments, such as kettles and toasters, should be kept well away from the open fire and tea towels etc. should never be dried over the gadgets
2. Never leave a saucepan unattended with the heat turned on and be especially careful when using chip pans with oil or fat.
3. Make sure that ovens are not left on after use.

WARNING

1. Look out for warning signs
2. Dangerous wiring
3. Hot plugs and sockets
4. Fuses that blow for no obvious reason
5. Light flickering
6. Brown scorch marks on sockets and plugs.  You should ask your electrician to check your wiring thoroughly if you see any of the danger signs.

ELECTRIC BLANKETS

1. Many fires and deaths are due to blankets being left accidentally switched on.  As with all electrical equipment, it is important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Check the instructions to see if you should switch off your blanket when you get into bed.  Under blankets should always be tied to the bed and be switched off before you get into bed.
3. All electric blankets should be kept dry and flat and should be serviced every two to three years.  The shop where you bought it can tell you about servicing arrangements.

HEATERS

1. Make sure you don’t sit too close to the heater to keep warm.  You could easily set light to your clothes or your chair, particularly if you fall asleep.
2. Heaters should always stand in a safe place where they cannot be knocked over and where they cannot be tripped over.  They should be kept well away from furniture and soft furnishings, such as curtains and cushions.  Do not position heaters where objects may fall onto them.  Portable heaters should never be placed close to beds or used to dry clothes.
3. As with open fires, make sure that all heaters are correctly guarded.  If you have young children at home, make sure you use an all enclosed guard with your heater as well.

DO’s

1. Use ISI certified appliances.
2. User good quality fuses of correct rating, miniature circuit breakers and earth leakage circuit breakers.
3. Use one socket for one appliance.
4. Switch off the electric supply of the fire affected areas.
5. Fuses and switches should be mounted on metallic cubicles for greater safety against fire.
6. Replace broken plugs and switches immediately.
7. Keep the electrical wires away from hot and wet surfaces
8. Switch off appliances after use and remove plugs from the socket.
9. Switch off the Main switch when leaving the premises home for a long duration.

Don’t’s

1. Don’t use substandard fixtures, appliances.
2. Never have temporary or naked joints on wiring.
3. Don’t lay wires under carpets, mats or doorways.  They get crushed, resulting in short circuiting
4. Don’t allow appliances cords to dangle.
5. Don’t place bare wire ends in a socket.