• Wear flameproof nightwear (particularly children). • Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach and extinguish and dispose of cigarettes carefully. Never smoke in bed.
• Never leave a frying pan unattended. • Before going to bed, unplug the TV and other appliances and close all doors to prevent the spread of fires.
Further Investigation To find out more about fire safety visit firesafetyweek.ie and learn how to STOP fire.
Did You Know?
A total of 366 deaths connected to 326 fires were recorded across Ireland from 2005 to 2014, according to statistics provided by fire services across the country and published by the Department of the Environment (now the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government). Cigarettes were the suspected cause of a quarter of the fatal fires according to these records.
Fire Escape Plan
Every public building, e.g. school, hospital or work place, must have a Fire Escape Plan. This is an outline of how to behave in the event of a fire; it details the actions to be taken by all staff in the event of fire and the arrangements for calling the fire brigade. A fire drill is a practice of what to do in advance, so that you can identify any likely problems that could occur and adapt the plan. It is advisable to have an escape plan for your home too.
Discovery Learning
Find out what you should do in the event of a fire in the school. Prepare an information leaflet for students telling them what to do in case a fire breaks out in your school.
Small fires • Use fire extinguisher or blanket to put out fire. • Water may be used on solid-fuel fires, but never on electricity or burning fat. • If the fire cannot be extinguished, call the fire brigade.
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Don’t Forget! It is important to have an escape plan worked out for your family home and to tell everyone in the house what to do in case of a fire. Practise the plan regularly. The fire brigade offer a consultancy service to home owners and workplaces.
