+
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1977
TIPS ON FIRE SAFETY AT HOME
*****
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FOLLOW A FEW SIMPLE RULES SO THAT THE THOUSANDS OF FIRES THAT OCCUR AT HOMES EACH YEAR COULD BE ELIMINATED.
+HOME FIRE PROTECTION IS EASY TO LEARN AND REMEMBER MOST OF IT, AFTER ALL, IS ONLY COMMON SENSE, + A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
+ALTHOUGH IT IS UNWISE TO LEAVE CHILDREN ON THE IR OWN, ESPECIALLY FOR LONG PERIODS, IT IS A FACT OF MODERN LIFE THAT THIS ON OCCASIONS BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE. WHERE THIS IS SO, DO TAKE THE TROUBLE TO ENSURE THAT ALL MATCHES AND LIGHTERS ARE OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN AND NEVER LEAVE ITEMS SUCH AS CANDLES BURNING,+ HE ADVISED.
SOME TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES HAD OCCURRED BECAUSE CHILDREN HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET HOLD OF MATCHES WHILE THEIR PARENTS HAVE BEEN OUT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
+CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT FROM AN EARLY AGE TO KNOW THAT FIRE NOT ONLY HURTS BUT ALSO KILLS.+
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF COOLER AND DRIER WEATHER, HE SAID, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WHEN USING PORTABLE HEATERS IN THE IR HOMES AND PLACES OF WORK.
+PORTABLE HEATERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH BURN KEROSENE, SHOULD BE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CANNOT BE KNOCKED OVER BY PLAYING CHILDREN. FURTHERMORE, THEY SHOULD BE PLACED SUFFICIENTLY FAR AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, SUCH AS CURTAINING OR BEDDING, TO PREVENT THEM CATCHING ALIGHT.
+BEFORE SWITCHING ON OR LIGHTING A HEATER, MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING ON IT OR NEAR IT WHICH COULD BE SET ON FIRE,+ HE SAID.
ACCORDING TO RECORDS, SOME OF THE MOST DAMAGING FIRES IN HONG KONG BROKE OUT AS A RESULT OF ELECTRICAL FAULTS CAUSED BY BAD MA INTENANCE OR NO MAINTENANCE AT ALL.
WIRING COULD DETERIORATE OVER THE YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, AND PERIODIC CHECKS BY A COMPETENT ELECTRICIAN WERE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY. CORDS AND APPLIANCES SHOULD BE KEPT IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION AND REPLACED WHEN FRAYED OR WORN.
+ IF TOO MANY ELECTRICAL ITEMS ARE PLUGGED INTO ONE SOCKET, THE WIRING COULD EASILY BECOME OVERHEATED AND FIRE BREAKS OUT, ESPECIALLY DURING PERIODS OF LOW HUMIDITY.
/+REMEMBER