FOR AN OBJECT TO IGNITE THERE should be the presence of heat, fuel and oxygen. Oxygen is present in the air while paper, grass and dried leaves can act as the “fuel.” Temperatures of fuels reach a certain critical point where ignition is possible. Without any one of these three essentials, no fire can result.
A house, in reality, is always theoretically fire prone. Your indoor kitchen provides a combination of heat, fuel and oxygen. Matches and other combustibles can be sometimes in reach of children.
To compound the risks are electrical systems that are often hidden from view. Faulty and worn-out wirings can lead to short-circuits (the critical ignition point of electrical systems), and when homeowners choose not to have licensed electrical engineers conduct fire safety inspections, this possibility of a fire caused by electrical wirings becomes an inevitability.
Home, lifesaving tips
From the Bureau of Fire Protection, here are home and life-saving tips:
- Put phone numbers of your nearest fire department near your phone.
- Eliminate fire hazards through good housekeeping: dispose waste paper, rubbish and other flammable materials regularly.
- Keep matches out of children’s reach.
- Oil or gas lamps and candles should be placed away from curtains. Do not light them near windows, fans or where children or pets may topple them. Put out the flame before going to bed.
- Do not keep flammable materials like gasoline, alcohol and paint inside the house.
- Regularly check your electrical installations, and have all frayed wirings and electrical fixtures changed or repaired by a licensed electrician.
- Do not overload electrical circuits by putting additional lights and appliances.
- Blown fuses should not be replaced with coins, wires or any other metal.
- Never leave a lighted cigarette/cigar/pipe unattended. This may fall on flammable materials.
- Keep a first-aid kit handy.
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