Residents welcome Joburg’s winter safety campaign

22 May 2017

 

Residents of Denver Hostel expressed their gratitude after Johannesburg Disaster Management, part of the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS), launched the winter safety campaign in the area on Saturday May 20.

 

Public Information, Education and Relations (PIER) Officer Obakeng Shuping told the hostel residents that the aim of the campaign was to create “maximum awareness” of safety hazards following the onset of the cold season and to ensure that all communities were safe.

Shuping said it was critical for the City of Johannesburg to establish community emergency response teams equipped with the necessary resources and skills to deal with such eventualities while awaiting the arrival of EMS teams.

“It’s winter time. There are many incidents of fire during this time of the year. People get hurt or even killed. Houses get burnt down as a result of fires caused by candles that have toppled over. We’re here in Denver Hostel to make residents aware of the dangers that accompany the cold winter season,” Shuping said.

Residents were warned to be cautious when using paraffin stoves, candles and braziers to cook, provide light or keep themselves warm during the icy weather.

“Residents must not build their houses close to one another because when there is a fire it spreads easily and quickly,” Shuping said.

Denver Hostel Chief Induna Shalazile Mbatha said he was grateful to the City for launching the winter safety campaign in his area.

Ward 118 councillor Neuren Petersen thanked EMS staff for the initiative and said the winter safety campaign would go a long way in making residents aware of their safety in their neighbourhood. He called on residents to be always on the alert and to follow safety tips as these would help them prevent unnecessary loss of life and valuable possessions.

He called on residents to:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended;

• Never leave a burning candle near an open window or a window with a curtain;

• Always use a stable candle holder;

• Always put the candle out when going to bed;

• Always use a childproof paraffin bottle;

• Keep paraffin and matches out of reach of children;

• If a child swallows paraffin, do not give him or her any liquid or make him or her vomit;

• Never sleep with a brazier burning inside the house;

• Never leave a brazier unattended; and

• Know your evacuation routes.

“Because fire is a risk in any building – whether you live, sleep, study or work there – you must always have an escape plan. You may need to escape within a few minutes of the start of a fire, so your safe exit depends on immediate warning from smoke alarms and community alerts,” said Shuping.