Fire Safety Kilmovee NS June 2020
Dear parents,
Bonfire Night (St. John’s Eve) takes place on Tuesday, June 23rd. It was traditionally marked by large fires throughout the countryside. These were lit at sundown and were the focal point of communal festivities. The custom has disappeared in many parts of the country, but is still practised in the West of Ireland. The date lies close to the Summer Solstice (June 21st) and suggests the custom may have ancient roots. At this time every year, teachers cover the module of ‘Fire Safety’. Please take the time to go over the following safety points and look at the attached links and videos with your child/children. It might be useful to keep this sheet and revisit it at Christmas time – which is a particularly dangerous time for fires.
The Golden Rules: Escape Drill (plan and practice) Smoke Alarm (have at least two, and test regularly) Survey your Home (implement fire safety measures)
The 7 things you need to teach your children about Fire Safety
Learn the emergency number and memorise it (112). Also – teach your child/children their Eircode.
Don’t hide, go outside!
If there is a fire, go straight outside. Children commonly choose to hide when they are afraid and they tend to seek refuge by hiding under beds or in cupboards. Parents need to make sure that children know that when they hear a smoke alarm, smell smoke or see a fire (even if they started it) that they should call for help and quickly crawl to the nearest safe exit and to never ever hide in the building. No going back
As hard as it may be if someone or something is still in there, never go back into a burning house – even for family members or pets. Children need to understand that they need to prioritise their own safety in the event of a fire and to never run back into a fire to retrieve anything from a burning building. This includes family members, pets and material possessions with sentimental value. If there is a pet inside, families should escape as soon as possible and inform any firefighters who are present at the fire instead of attempting to rescue the pet themselves.
Get down low & Go Go Go Smoke inhalation is the number one cause of death in a house fire. The air is cooler and cleaner low to the ground, which is why children need to know to get down low and crawl to safety. It’s a good idea to practice your fire escape plan with young children, making sure you all get down low and crawl to the nearest exit. If you have a child who uses a mobility aid, they should be provided with a smoke protection mask.
Stop, Drop and Roll
It is important that children know how to best extinguish their clothes if they are on fire. Teach children to stop and drop to the ground, lying flat with legs out straight. From here, children need to use their hands to cover their eyes and mouth and roll over, back and forth until the flames are out. Parents need to make sure that children know to only do this if their clothing is on fire. Tell a grown up if you find matches or lighters
Matches, lighters and any other sources of fire need to be kept safely out of a reach and view of children. Parents need to set a good example and only use fire in appropriate ways such as for candles or lighting a stove. Make sure children are aware of the dangers of matches or lighters and that they are only used in a practical way. Children should be taught to always tell a grown-up if they find matches or lighters or if they know another child who has matches or lighters. Don’t leave toys near fires or heaters
Toys are often made from highly flammable materials. Be sure that children know to keep all toys at least a metre from fires or heaters and do not leave them nearby once they are done playing.
Fire Safety in the Home
Living/Sitting Room Open fires Always use a properly fitting spark-guard in front of open fires especially when you are going out or going to bed .Don’t use an open fire to air clothes as this is a major fire risk Clean your chimney regularly (minimum twice a year) Don’t store items like papers, magazines, clothing or combustible items near a fire Be careful how you dispose of hot ashes. Don’t place them in a plastic bin. Keep matches and lighters away from children. Portable heaters Be extremely careful how you use portable heaters. Position them away from furniture, curtains and flammable items. Ensure portable heaters are switched off and/or plugged out before you leave the room or go to bed at night. Never move portable heaters while they are in use. Candles Ensure candles are in a suitable folder. Never leave lighting candles unattended and ensure candles are in proper holders. Position candles away from draughts. Ensure candles are not near items that may catch fire such as curtains. Avoid moving a lighting candle. Ensure all candles are properly extinguished before you leave the room or go to bed
In the Kitchen Provide a working fire extinguisher and fire blanket in your kitchen and learn how to use them. Keep the cooker clean – grease can cause fires. Clean and replace filters in extractor fans on a regular basis. Don’t have anything combustible near the cooker. Avoid the use of chip pans – If you do use them: Never leave them unattended. Never fill the pan more than on third full of oil. Never move a hot chip pan. In the Bedroom Never smoke in the bedroom. Have a torch or flash lamp near your bed for light in case of an emergency. Never leave your mobile phone charger plugged in at night-time or when leaving the house.
Last thing at night Ensure spark guards are in front of open fires. Switch off and unplug all electrical items. Do not leave the television, radio or computer on standby. Plug out phone chargers. If your exit requires a key for opening, ensure the key is in the lock before going to bed. Ensure all escape routes are clear. Close all doors (especially from the kitchen and living room)
Electrical Items Use electrical items carefully and store them properly when they are not in use. Don’t overload sockets or use double adapters. If electrical cables or plugs are damaged, worn or frayed, contact an electrician
Storage: Rubbish, newspapers etc. should not be allowed to build up and should be stored appropriately. Flammable materials such as paints, solvents, adhesives (glues) and chemicals should not be stored in the home. Smoke Alarms: Smoke alarms are very important for early warning – smoke will not wake you up in fact it will make you sleep more deeply. Smoke alarms buy you time to allow you and your family to get safely out of the house. At least two smoke alarms should suit a standard two-storey dwelling. These should be located on the landing of each floor. Alarms must be positioned at the highest point and as close to the centre of the ceiling as possible. They should be tested weekly – by pressing the test button.
Make a fire escape plan:
Decide on a meeting point outside. Telephone the Fire Brigade on 999 or 112. Practice the plan. If you have overnight visitors tell them about the plan. If you do have a fire in your house: Close all doors behind you as you leave. If your clothes catch fire – remember – Stop, Drop & Roll Keep low to the ground (air is fresher) Go to the a meeting point outside the house. Do not re-renter the house for any reason. Telephone the fire brigade from a neighbouring house or mobile phone. Call 999 or 112 Do not re-enter the house until advised to by the fire brigade.
Bonfire safety
If you are having a bonfire follow the simple tips below to make sure you, and others, are safe:
Building a bonfire Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire is important. If you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:
Only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke. Build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees. Check there are no cables, like telephone wires, above the bonfire. Don’t use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going as it may get out of control quickly. As a rule of thumb the bonfire should be a minimum of five times its height from property.
Bonfire safety tips: Once the bonfire is lit, make sure you: Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby in case of emergencies. Don’t leave the bonfire unattended. Keep children and pets away from the bonfire and always make sure an adult is present. Don’t throw any fireworks into the fire. Don’t burn aerosols, tyres, canisters or anything containing foam or paint – many produce toxic fumes and some containers may explode, causing injury. Once the bonfire has died down, spray the embers with water to stop it reigniting.
Enjoy your Bonfire safely, if you are holding one. Stay safe,
Mary Warde.