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March is declared as Fire Prevention Month. According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), it is this month that the temperature and humidity starts to reach high levels, causing the rise of temperature in the country. This, together with the hot dry weather, results in the rise of reported fire cases around the country. The proclamation, signed by then Pres. Marcos, promotes safety consciousness and to be more vigilant to prevent such incidents.
Fire can occur anywhere. From the screaming headlines during the Valenzuela (Kentex), Cavite (HTI) and Davao (NCC) fires down to the neighborhood fires breaking out in clustered communities in any urban or rural setting in our country. The effects can be devastating. Not only lives can be lost, but properties and other assets gone in a flash.
For 2019, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the government agency in charge of fire protection activities, have the following theme for this year’s celebration, “Ligtas na Pilipinas Ating Kamtin, Bawat Pamilya ay Sanayin, Kaalaman sa Sunog ay Palawakin”. The theme underscored the idea that fire protection is beyond government to act alone-at its core is the family and that the family and the lager community must be taught how to recognize fire hazards; prevent them from happening and when they do happen, be prepared to cope with them to lessen injuries and fatalities to fire.
And in a disaster-prone country like ours. Fires can break out in an earthquake of big magnitude when power lines and facilities go down. Thus, knowledge on fire prevention and emergency response is a must. We have enumerated some common tips on fire prevention at home, at the office and on the streets.
Cooking Safety Basics
- Never leave food unattended while it’s cooking on the stove, and closely monitor food cooking in the oven
- Maintain a clean and tidy cooking area that is free of items that catch on fire easily, such as cloth (curtains, potholders, towels, etc.), paper (cook books, food packaging, newspapers, etc.), and plastic (food packaging, storage containers, etc.)
- Roll up your shirtsleeves, or wear short, tight sleeves while cooking, so your clothes don’t accidentally hang onto stove burners and catch fire
- Always keep a potholder, oven mitt, and lid on hand
- Never use a wet potholder or oven mitt, in order to avoid scalding when the moisture in the cloth heats up
- Never plug microwaves into extension cords, and never microwave metal containers or tinfoil
- Keep children and pets away from cooking areas
Smoking Fire Safety
- Smoke outside of your home, so you Do not put others at risk
- Never smoke in bed
- Never smoke in an area where oxygen tanks are being used
- Don’t smoke if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs that impair your ability to handle smoking materials correctly
- Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy surface
- Make sure butts and ashes are extinguished by soaking them in water before discarding them
- Check under furniture cushions, and in other places people smoke, for butts and ashes that may have fallen out of sight
- Keep matches and lighters out of children's sight and reach
- Consider using fire-safe cigarettes, which are less likely to cause fires.
Electrical Safety Basics
- Protect electrical outlets with plastic safety covers if small children are present in your home
- Never operate electrical appliances around bathtubs, showers, or puddles of standing water
- Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection when working where water is near electricity, to protect against electric shock … This means you should use GFCIs in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and outdoor locations
- Replace or repair frayed, loose, or otherwise damaged cords on all electronics
- Shut off the circuit and have it checked by an electrician if any switches feel warm
- Take note of any discolored switch plates, because discoloration could indicate that the electrical wiring behind the switch plate is overheating
- Remember: symptoms of potential wiring problems include household lights that dim or flicker, a TV picture that shrinks in size, frequent blown fuses, or circuit breakers that trip frequently
- Place lamps on level surfaces, away from flammable items, and use light bulbs that match the lamps’ recommended wattages
Gasoline Safety Basics
- Keep gasoline out of children's reach and sight, and never allow children to handle gas
- Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent
- Never use gasoline to wash mechanical parts
- Never use gasoline to start a fire in barbecue pits or cooking grills
- Never use gasoline as a replacement for kerosene or diesel
- Do not use or store gasoline near potential ignition sources, including gas-fired water heaters that contain a pilot flame
- Follow all manufacturers’ instructions when using electronics (including all devices with batteries or connections to electrical outlets) near gasoline
- Clean up spills immediately and discard clean-up materials properly
Office Safety
- Check for electrically-powered items as computers, printers, laptops, copiers, lamps and other electric equipment. One common error is not unplugging them from the outlet and leaving them overnight where some can overheat at night especially if they already have undetected problems. Experts recommend regular checking of equipment for damage, ensuring equipment is used correctly by employees and removing faulty equipment from use straight away.
- Testing of fire alarm/detection systems regularly to ensure that they are working properly. Testing also ensures that the alarm can be heard when sounded off and that the office workers know what to do in case of said alarm
- Check emergency escape routes. A common problem is that fire escape routes are blocked because they are converted to storage space. Ensure that workers know the importance of keeping pathways to the fire exits clear in case of need for evacuation.
- Appoint and continuously train members of the fire emergency team who can conduct and /or refresh workers on fire safety and conduct fire drills at least once a year.
- Implement the “No Smoking” policy of the local government where your office is located. Davao and Quezon City have strict no smoking policies even in public areas
- Educate workers on safety. A study in the UK indicated that 75% of fires were started accidentally mostly as a result of people misusing equipment and appliances, careless handling or smoking material. It’s important that all employees are trained in fire safety so they can identify hazards, how to control them and what to do in case of a fire in the workplace. The office’s plans, procedures, signs and equipment in place can be rendered ineffective if employees don’t understand their responsibilities.
Sources: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/51947-march-fire-prevention-month
