We all know how dangerous fire is, but do you know what to do in a fire? Are you and your family equipped to deal with this eventuality? If you are not sure, or want more information, we have written an article containing fire safety tips from our experts. We’ve got some great fire prevention tips, advice and fire safety rules that are relevant for kids, adults and workplaces too!
What exactly is fire safety?
Fire safety, according to Wikipedia is a series of processes which will help reduce fire and its effects. This can be from the use of fire protection systems to ensuring your property is equipped with a wide range of fire extinguishers.
Fire safety tips for kids
At NAFFCO, we take fire safety for kids very seriously. It is important in the event of a fire that you and your family know exactly what to do as time is precious (during a fire). To help you and your children, we have come up with a list of fire safety tips for kids.
1) It is important that you know all of your emergency and fire prevention numbers. We advise that you memorize these numbers so that you or your family can call them when you leave the property:
- Fire – 997
- Police – 999
- Ambulance – 998
For more emergency contact numbers, click here to find out more information. Make sure that your main priority is leaving the building.
2) They may look fun and grown-up, but it is important not to play with matches, candles or lighters. If you can reach the matches, lighters or candles, you mustn’t touch them, instead, you should tell your parents right away. If you see someone playing with any of these, don’t waste time in telling a grown-up.
3) Grown-ups can forget to check smoke detectors and other fire safety equipment. Every month, you should help your parents by reminding them that they should check the smoke detector is working (every month). Smoke detectors are very important fire prevention equipment. Ask your parents to test it when you are there so you know what the piercing sound is like. If you hear this sound get ready to leave the building.
4) Every family must have a plan in case fire strikes. Ask your parents to practice how to escape from your home regularly and remember your family’s meeting plan. It is important that you never go back into the house during a fire.
5) If you see a fire, tell an adult RIGHT NOW! Fires will only get worse, and you must make sure everyone knows to get ready to leave. Don’t hide in a wardrobe, under the bed or anywhere else.
6) Is the fire and smoke very bad? It is important to remember to Fall and Crawl. This will help you get out of your home if the fire or smoke is bad. Crawling low under the smoke will help you escape from the smoke; cover your mouth with a wet cloth as well.
7) Stop, Fall and Roll – remember this phrase as it will help if your clothes catch fire. It is important to keep rolling and remember not to run as this will make it worse. Shout for help while you are rolling on the floor.
8) Don’t go back inside for your toys or any other possessions. It is important that you leave the property very quickly. Toys and your things can be replaced, but your life cannot and that is the most important thing of all!
Adult fire prevention tips
As we are the experts in the fire fighting world, we have listed some great fire safety tips specifically for adults. Our fire safety advice is second-to-none in the industry.
1) Plan for every emergency. Regularly go through your fire safety plan with every member of your home and make sure everyone knows the escape routes. Practice this plan at least twice a year so that you and everyone know what to do. It is imperative that your family know their way out.
2) It is important that you do not overload the electrical circuits in your property. It can be tempting to plug all your devices in and use extension cords, but this is a real fire hazard that could spell disaster for your property.
3) Test the smoke alarms in your home every month. It is also important to make sure that every member of your household is aware of the noise it makes, especially your children. If the fire alarm does not work when you test it, please replace the batteries. Ensure smoke alarms are installed on every level of the home. We recommend you install them outside and inside bedrooms.
4) As well as following the fire safety for kids’ tips, we would like to stress that if a fire happens, you must leave the property IMMEDIATELY with your family. When you arrive at your fire meeting point, it is vital that you STAY OUT of your property. Don’t go back into the property – possessions and personal belongings can be replaced but lives cannot. When you are outside, CALL the emergency services for help.
5) Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used, especially overnight. This is an important tip to know and will help stop short-circuiting in your property.
6) Do not use an elevator if there is a fire in your property. Use the stairway when exiting with your family as this is the safest option for leaving a building.
7) We recommend that you identify all potential fire hazards in your home and prepare adequately. This will enable you to reduce all risks. Keeping matches and lighters out of your children’s reach will help matters.
8) Candles look beautiful and offer nice scents to homes, but they are a huge risk to fire and safety. If you want to cut down risks of fires in your home, then be careful when using candles and NEVER leave them unattended.
9) When you are cooking food, you must stay in the kitchen when you are doing the following:
- Frying
- Grilling
- Broiling
- Boiling
Even if it’s for a short period of time, do not leave the kitchen unless you have another adult to watch the food. Food that is left to cook unattended has a greater chance of turning into a destructive fire.
10) Use only the best fire equipment and make sure it is up-to-date. Do not use or buy fire equipment that has not been certified by a recognized fire company. NAFFCO’s extinguishers have been certified by companies such as:
- BSI
- Global Mark
- LPCB
- UL
How to use a fire extinguisher?
A fire extinguisher is an essential piece of any household’s fire safety equipment and will enable you to tackle fires quickly and effectively. Look at our great YouTube video underneath.
(If you don’t have the time) The four main principles of fire extinguisher use are detailed in our step-by-step underneath:
- Pull the pin
- Aim at the fire
- Squeeze the handle
- Sweep the nozzle
View our range of fire extinguishers and protect your home with the finest products on the market. To help you remember how to tackle fires in your property, just remember some basic fire rules:
- P - Pull
- A - Aim
- S - Squeeze
- S - Sweep
Workplace fire safety tips
1) Like any building, your workplace must have a good safety plan that is tailored to your building and industry. It is also your duty as an employer to ensure that your employees are aware of this plan and the necessary evacuation procedures. Test drills are a useful way to practice fire evacuation and will enable employees to be aware of evacuation signals.
2) The nature of fires means that you and your employees may not always be able to use the designated fire route which means you must have an alternative way out.
3) As mentioned earlier, if you encounter smoke when you are leaving the building, it is important to remember our Fall and Crawl technique. Crawling under the smoke is the most effective technique for leaving a building.
4) If you are stuck in a room and cannot leave because of a fire outside, put something by the doorway to prevent smoke from entering the room. Clothes or sheets are a superb way to block smoke. Meanwhile, you can sound the alarm by ringing the fire brigade and shouting out of the window.
5) Many fires start without any human knowledge and will worsen if left unchecked. The best way to tackle an undiscovered fire is the use of a passive fire protection system. Fire doors will help keep your business within fire and safety legislation.
More about NAFFCO
Our company does not just provide fire safety advice; we are one of the leading suppliers of fire fighting equipment and information in Dubai and the MENA Region. With many years of experience in the industry, our services are second-to-none.
The motto of our fire prevention company is “passion to protect” and our customers can expect that we will deliver just that. So whether you need more advice or personalized fire information, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team here.
