IEC students enjoyed a successful excursion to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) learning a lot about fire safety in their homes.
They were shown a video about how to escape as safely as possible out of their house making sure to check closed doors by using the back of their hand on the door to feel for heat.
Smoke alarms are very important for the fire safety and we should ensure they are working and replace batteries yearly. There should be at least two smoke alarms in the house with one being close to bedrooms.
Students learned how to use a fire extinguisher and fire blankets and were shown the aftermath of a kitchen fire as most house fires start in the kitchen.
The next biggest cause of house fires is from smoking materials. Unattended cigarettes and smoking in bed are a major cause of house fires – so having a non-smoking lifestyle is a good idea.
It’s important to use home electrical and heating appliances safely and not to overload power points with double adaptors. During winter we need to check that clothes are at least one metre from the heater.
DFES staff also showed how to safely check fireplaces before lighting the first fire of the year and about safely using candles and oil burners.
Here are the steps to follow if you do find yourself in a house fire:
1. Crawl low under smoke, smoke is poisonous and is more likely to kill you than flames.
2. Be fast, a house fire can kill you in less than three minutes.
3. Get out and stay out, people have died by going back into a fire.
4. Call 000, ask for Fire, knowing home address and cross streets important.
Back in class the students completed an activity drawing an escape plan out of their houses to a safe meeting place like the post box where fire fighters can find them easily.
