HOW A FIRE EXTINGUISHER CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

Do you know that an average of 400,000 home fires happen yearly. These fires cause an average death 5000 civilian deaths, 20,000 civilian fire injury and 500 billion naira in direct damage. The statistics are very alarming as regard the colossal losses recorded in home fires.

The reasons are varied from cooking equipments, smoking, high voltage supply etc. A very vital protective and preventive tool is the fire extinguisher. It is unfortunate that most homes do not have this relatively cheap but important home equipment.

Why spend so much on your exquisite homes and find it difficult to protect them with serviced fire extinguishers? I know you will say "Isn't that the reason for buying insurance?'' Insurance is bought in order to give protection against fire but fire insurance will not cover deaths that may result from home fires? As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.

Here is a brief report by Mr Tunde on how his family and assets were saved by a fire extinguisher.

"Firefighters were called to my home on a Wednesday morning after a laptop computer burst into flames. My wife, Kenny, was at home reading e-mail on a different computer when the Sony Vaio laptop computer caught fire. "Flames started to shoot out from all different directions” Kenny said.

She put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and called me at work to tell what happened. "(The laptop) burst into flames again while she was on the phone with him. She had it put out by the time everyone got here," Ahmed said. His laptop computer was turned off, but was charging at the time of the fire. He said the only damage was a smudge on the wall and fire extinguisher dust on the furniture."

Having a serviceable fire extinguisher help prevent fire outbreak. Installing fire extinguishers seem to be the first step but what is more important is the state of the extinguishers at the point of need. How do you identify an empty fire extinguisher. How often do you need to service them. Where should they be located?

How do you use the fire extinguisher? Below is an easy acronym that drives home these tips

Remember the word P.A.S.S when using a fire extinguisher:

P – Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.

A – Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

S – Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

  

S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side

It is important to use fire extinguishers with caution.

Use a portable fire extinguisher ONLY if you have been trained by the fire department and in the following conditions:

• The fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing.
• The room is not filled with smoke.
• Everyone has exited the building.
• The fire department has been called.

The fire extinguisher is the first line of defence against fire outbreak. If detected early, fire extinguishers can help put off home fires before it becomes an uncontrollable fire. Stay safe, install and make use of fire extinguisher today.

Your safety should be a priority.

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TIPS TO PREVENTING FIRE AT HOME

One of the worst and scariest things that can happen is a home fire. The fire when it happen can occasionally get out of control, and when they do, the damage is often significant.

There are several things that can trigger a fire in your home. In addition to common cooking or heating fires, a number of other fire causes including malfunction of electrical and heating systems, negligent use of candles, cigarettes and matches, and arson can plague homeowners.

Based on the reports from Nigeria Fire Statistics of 2015, approximately 184 deaths from 397 home fire incidents occurred and properties worth 6 billion naira was lost.

Between those statistics, and the other tragedy of losing your home, and your possessions, it's important that you take fire safety extremely seriously.

So in the interest of ensuring we continuing to reduce fire statistics across the country, here are some tips the average person can practice in order to maintain a household safe from accidental fires.

Install smoke alarms

Installing functional smoke alarms throughout the home can help reduce accidental fires. This helps in detecting smoke/fires at the earliest which prompts for quick fire emergency control measures. The smoke alarms should be installed inside every area both inside and outside. But it isn’t enough to merely install smoke alarms; they need to be maintained as well. To do this, those with smoke alarms in their home should commit to once-a-month checks and replacing the batteries once a year.

The majority of actions that prevent a fire are free, low cost or cost-effective; and ensuring that you have a fully functioning fire alarm system in place can save you hundreds of thousands in the long term.

Inspect cords

Many cords plugged into multiple outlets throughout the home can present a fire hazard and thus should be checked periodically to ensure they are generally in good condition and are not otherwise frayed or damaged. This is because frayed cords can present a risk of shock as well as being a fire hazard. Also, it’s important to never cover cords with carpeting or rugs, as this can restrict air flow and cause damage to the cord.

Look out for faulty outlets and switches

To cut down on the risk of fire of these types, residents in home should perform periodic checks of their home’s outlets and switches. Some warning signs to look for include

1.     Noises coming from the outlet

2.     Plugs that don’t attach firmly to the socket (loose plugs)

3.     Switches or outlets that are warm to the touch

Any of the above can be signs of bad wiring or insecure electrical connections – both of which are a fire hazard.

Check appliances

Household appliances should never be used in contact with heat sources, such as stoves or ovens. Even more subtle scenarios, such the cord of a blender running around a toaster, can present a fire hazard. And, of course, portable heaters should be kept at least three feet away from anything flammable.

Make sure everyone knows where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them.

Include fire extinguisher locations and instructions for use in every part of your home. If a small fire does start, it is much easier to squelch if every occupant is prepared. Locate fire extinguishers in visibly and clearly marked places throughout the home especially the kitchen.

Consider light-bulb wattage

Unfortunately, many people use light bulbs with a wattage rating not properly suited to the fixtures they are plugged into in the home. Needless to say, this can present a fire hazard. The best course of action for those who don’t know how much wattage their fixtures are equipped for is to be on the safe side and use a 60-watt bulb.

Don't leave the kitchen or grill unattended

Grease fires are some of the most common types of fires, so make sure that your kitchen is clean and that you never leave the stove or grill on when you step outside. 

Keep matches and lighters away from kids

Be sure to lock up all sources of flame at all times. 

By adhering to these simple tips and guidelines, we can do our part to reduce the occurrence of home fires and protect ourselves and our families in the process.

For a comprehensive plan to protect your home and properties against the loss/damage by fire accident, get our Fire Insurance policy today! 

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