Fire Safety at Home Full Booklet (English | Irish)

Fire safety at home leaflets (English | Irish)

Smoke And Heat Alarms... (English | Irish)

Fire Safety in Flats and Apartments (English | Irish)

Fire safety for older people (English | Irish)

Fire Safety in Caravans. (English | Irish)

Make Sure Your Home Is Fitted With At Least Two Good Quality Smoke Alarms.

 

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NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY WEEK
3rd to 10th October

(Click on link to open pdf file)

For Further Information on Fire Safety Week, Fire Safety Talks or Fire Safety Brochures

Contact Wicklow County Fire Service Tel. 01-2117600 or email firehead@wicklowcoco.ie

 

Email Link : ghickey@wicklowcoco.ie

 

 

 

Install a smoke alarm today – there is no going back to save a life

Install smoke alarms today. Don’t leave it until it is too late.

Smoke is a silent killer.

Within minutes, toxic gases can leave you disorientated, drowsy and unable to escape from a fire

On average 42 people DIE in fires nationally every year.

And the majority of those deaths are caused from Smoke Inhalation

Tragically most of these deaths could have been prevented if a working smoke alarm had been present in the home.

Have an escape plan, teach it to your family and practice it regularly.

Don’t postpone it until it is too late - It could save your life one day!

You can't be too prepared for a fire! 

 

From Living Room To Inferno In Under 2 Minutes   j In this fire test watch a furnished room go from small fire to flashover. The point at which everything, including the smoke itself, ignites. The temperatures in this room reach over 930 degrees fahrenheit in less than two minutes. Even more reason to get out of a burning building as quickly as possible!

 

Night Time Routine

Many fires in the home start at night.

Make sure you have a night time fire safety routine to help you and your family keep safe.

Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances not designed to stay on.

 

 

Make sure all smoking materials are put out.

 

Make sure everyone in your home knows how to call the Fire & Rescue Services.

 

 

 

Planning Your Escape Route

If a fire occurs in your home you may have to get out in dark and difficult conditions.

Escaping from a fire will be a lot easier if you have already planned your escape route and know where to go.

Involve everyone in the house.

The normal way out is the preferred choice

Keep your escape route clear of obstructions

Protect your escape route by closing all doors into it, especially at night

Practice using the agreed plan

Select a safe meeting place outside

If you are cut off by Fire, try to remain calm.

Close the door and use towels or sheets to block any gaps

Try to make your way to the window

If the room becomes smokey, crawl along the floor

Open the window and try to attract the attention of others.

Most people now carry a mobile phone so try and call someone you know is in the area of the fire and tell them where abouts you are.

 

The Kitchen

As kitchens can be dangerous places for children, avoid leaving them unsupervised.

Avoid using the front of the hob when small children are around.

Make sure that saucepan handles don't stick out to avoid them being knocked off

 

Home Safety Fire Kit

Home Safety Fire Kit Consisting of

A Good Quality Fire-Extinguiser, Fire Blanket And of course Good Standard Smoke Alarms.

 

What To Do If You Notice A Fire

Keep calm and get everyone out as quick and as safely as you can

Call 999

Give exact location when possible or give details of a landmark such as a farm, school or public House.

Never ever try to fight a fire Yourself

if the fire can't be put out with a bucket of water, you need to call for HELP it can quickly And easily Spread.

Call The Fire Brigade.

 

When not to fight a fire yourself:

• If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started
  

• If you can't fight the fire with your back to an escape exit
  

• If the fire can block your only escape
  

• If you don't have adequate fire-fighting equipment
  In any of these situations-
  
  

DON'T FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF.
CALL FOR HELP.

Fire Extinguishers

Click Chart To Enlarge

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE PROPER FIRE EXTINGUISHER

All ratings are shows on the extinguisher faceplate. Some extinguishers are marked with multiple ratings such as AB, BC and ABC. These extinguishers are capable of putting out more than one class of fire.

Class A and B extinguishers carry a numerical rating that indicates how large a fire an experienced person can safely put out with that extinguisher.

Class C extinguishers have only a letter rating to indicate that the extinguishing agent will not conduct electrical current. Class C extinguishers must also carry a Class A or B rating.

Class D extinguishers carry only a letter rating indicating their effectiveness on certain amounts of specific metals.

 

HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Remember the acronym, " P.A.S.S."

P.A.S.S. -  Stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

Pull- The first step is to pull the pin ( it usually has the inspection tag attached to it) that prevents the handle from being squeezed. 

Aim- The second step is to aim the spray nozzle, or if attached the hose nozzle, at the fire. Aim low at the base of the fire. 

Squeeze- The third step is to squeeze the handle to spray the contents. Remember a standard fire-extinguisher has less than 30 seconds of spray time.

Sweep- The final step is to sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.

 

REMEMBER:

• Should your path of escape be threatened
  

• Should the extinguisher run out of agent
  

• Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective
  

• Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE

If you should catch on fire:

STOP - where you are

DROP - to the floor

ROLL - around on the floor

This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.

Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.

If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save them from serious burns or even death

 

How Fires Are Classified

	CLASS A
	Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics.
	CLASS B
	Flammable or combustible liquids such as Petrol,Diesel, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane.
	CLASS C
	Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools.
	CLASS D
	Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.

 

How to Extinguish Small Fires

Class A - Extinguish ordinary combustibles by cooling the material below its ignition temperature and soaking the fibers to prevent re-ignition.

Use pressurized water, foam or multi-purpose(ABC-rated) dry chemical extinguishers. DO NOT USE carbon dioxide or ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical extinguishers on Class A fires.

Class B - Extinguish flammable liquids, greases or gases by removing the oxygen, preventing the vapors from reaching the ignition source or inhibiting the chemical chain reaction. 

Foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical, and halon extinguishers may be used to fight Class B fires.

Class C - Extinguish energized electrical equipment by using an extinguishing agent that is not capable of conducting electrical currents.

Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical and halon* fire extinguishers may be used to fight Class C fires. DO NOT USE water extinguishers on energized electrical equipment.

Class D - Extinguish combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium with dry powder extinguishing agents specially designated for the material involved.

In most cases, they absorb the heat from the material, cooling it below its ignition temperature.

 

HOW FIRES START

Fire is a Chemical Reaction.

It needs three elements to occur:

FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn.

OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent oxygen.

HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur.

CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur when the three elements of fire are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.


Take any one of these three factors away, and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.

 

 

Barbeque Safety

Keep a bucket of water or sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.

Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.

Never use a barbecue indoors.

Never leave a barbecue unattended.

Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.

Use enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue, but not more (normally around 5cms)

Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area.

 

Remember to keep, Matches, lighters and candles out of children's reach.

Position lighted candles and tea lights out of children's reach

Always Place a spark guard in front on an open fire.

Electrics and Heaters

Teach children not to poke anything, including fingers, into sockets.

Consider getting plug guards to cover sockets.

Make sure All electrical appliances in children's bedrooms are switched off at night.

Fit a childproof guard in front of open fires or heaters

the best ones can be fixed to the wall.

Make sure children don't play near fires or heaters to avoid them getting burnt.