2 FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households

Before FireOutbreak• Always switch off all electrical

appliances any time there is poweroutageorlight-off.

• Consider installing a fire alarm in yourhomeifyoucanaffordit.

• Create escape routes in your houseand review them with your familyincludingmemberswithdisabilities.

• Ensure that burglar bars and otherantitheft mechanisms do not blockyourescaperoutes.

• Practice how to escape from eachroomwithyourfamily.

• Consider escape ladders and zig zagramps if your residencehasmore thanonelevel.

• Preposition fire extinguishers in yourhome andmake sure that each familymembercanusethemproperly.

FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households 3

FlammableItems• Do not store flammable liquids

(gasoline,petrol,etc.)inyourhome.

• Safelydiscardallcombustiblematerialsthat have come into contact withflammableliquids.

• Never smoke or hold naked fire nearflammableliquids.

• Check your gas cylinder for leakageand replace it as directed by themanufacturer.

• If your home has a chimney, insulateit and place spark arresters on top.Remove branches hanging above andaroundthechimney.

• Have heating units inspected andcleaned annually by a certifiedspecialist.

4 FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households

Heating Sources• Do not leave microwaves, toasters

and pressing irons unattended afterpluggingtheminandswitchingonthesourceofpower.Unplugthemfromthepowersourceafteruse.

• Do not rest a heated pressing ironflat on the ironing board. Alwayskeep it standingwith the heating faceperpendiculartotheironingboard.

• Keep open flames away from walls,furniture, drapery, and flammableitems.

Matches and Smoking• Keep matches and lighters up high,

away from children, and, if possible, inalockedcabinet.

• Avoidsmoking inbedorwhenyouarefeelingdrowsy.

• If you must smoke indoors, use anashtray to collect the ash and cigarbutts. Ensure that cigarette butts aredousedwithwaterbeforedisposal.

FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households 5

Electrical Wiring• Have the electrical wiring in your

residence checked by a competentelectrician.

• Avoid using pieces of flex joinedtogether. Buy a newone long tomeetyour need. False economy could causeafire!

• Inspect extension cords for frayed orexposedwiresorlooseplugs.

• Do not pass extension cords underthe carpet, rugs, over nails, or acrossareas where household members willbesteppingonthewire.

• Avoid theuseofmultipleadaptersandplugs in order to prevent sparks andshortcircuits.Ifyouhavetoplugintwoor three appliances, use built-in circuitbreakers.

• Replacecharredorbrokenwall socketsanddamagedorworn-outcords.

• Electrical sockets in bathrooms shouldbeplacedhighandkeptdry.

• Ensure secondhand or home usedappliances are electrically safe beforeyouusethem.

6 FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households

During Fire Outbreak• Sound fire alarm to alert others to the

fire outbreak and evacuate the houseimmediately.

• Call Ghana National Fire Service on192, 112 or on the phone numberof the nearest Fire Station to yourlocation.

• Stayoutonceyouare safelyoutof thehouseanddonotre-enter.

• Only attempt to extinguish the fire ifyou are trained and it is safe for youdosowithoutendangeringyourlife.

• When escaping from fire through aclosed door, use the back of yourhand to feel the top of the door, thedoorknob, and the crack between thedooranddoorframebeforeyouopenit.

• If the door is cool - Open slowlyand ensure fire and/or smoke is notblocking your escape route. If yourescape route is blocked, shut thedoor immediately anduseanalternateescaperoute.

• If the door is hot - Do not open.Escape through an alternate escaperoute.

192call

EMERGENCY

FIRE SAFETY Tips for Households 7

• If you cannot escape, move to a window and shout to alert firefighterstoyourpresence.

• If thehouse isengulfedwithsmoke,crawl lowtoyourexit -heavysmoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling. The airisclearerandcoolernearthefloor.

• Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of thefire.

• If your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop, and roll until the fire isextinguished.Runningonlymakesthefireburnfaster.

After Fire Outbreak• Only re-enter your house after it has

been declared safe by personnel of theGhanaNationalFireService.

• Cooperate with personnel of the GhanaNationalFireServiceintheirinvestigationofthecauseofthefireoutbreak.

• Do not use any socket or turn on airconditioneruntilacompetentelectricianhas checked the installations and certifythatitissafetodoso.

• Re-constructor retrofityourhouseusingcompetent professionals to prevent orreducefuturefireoutbreaks.

CONTACT US:

• Location: Plot 3. Brigade, East Kanda

• Address: P. O. Box CT 3994, Cantoments, Accra

• Telephone: 233-302-762 593 / 780 221

• Email: nadmo_hq@rocketmail.com / nadmo@live.comcontact-nadmohq@yahoo.com

• Website: www.nadmo.gov.gh

OUR 24HR OPERATIONS NUMBERS

• Telephone: 020 2019090, 028 9554061,

• Tigo Short Codes: 511

• Tel / Fax: 233-302-772 926