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1. THINK TWICE ABOUT USING BABY WALKERS – Baby walkers enable children to move quickly, reaching or knocking into fire hazards such as irons, heaters and open fires. Make sure the area is clear of fire hazards before allowing your child to walk around in a baby walker

 

2. CHOOSE THE SAFETY SWITCH OPTION – When choosing a portable heater, choose models that have automatic safety switches, which turn the heater off if it’s tipped over

 

3. BUY FIRE SAFE PJS – Choose low fire-risk children’s nightwear styled to be close fitting and made of less flammable material. Look for the fire risk label when shopping

 

4. 1 in 3 NSW FIRES START IN THE KITCHEN** – With one in three fires starting in the kitchen, always keep an eye out when cooking and turn off the stove, oven and all appliances immediately once you have finished

 

5. DON’T USE WATER TO PUT OUT OIL FIRES – Never use water to put out an oil fire as this can actually spread the fire. Instead use a fire blanket or an approved fire extinguisher and if a fire does break out that cannot be safely and quickly controlled, call 000 immediately

 

6. STOP THE SPREAD – If a fire is in a room, close the door before evacuating to limit the spread of fire. In some cases, this may starve the fire of oxygen and smother it. In a kitchen fire, turning off or isolating the power to an appliance may reduce the size of a fire and allow it to be extinguished safely or limit the spread until the Fire Service arrives

 

7. KEEP MATCHES OUT OF REACH – As many fires are started by children, keep matches and lighters out of their reach, especially from children aged 0 – 5 years. Lighters now include child resistant mechanisms but they are not child proof

 

8. PLAN AHEAD – It only takes 3-4 minutes for a house to go up in flames. To ensure you and your family exit the house quickly if a fire starts, create a fire escape plan and practise it with your children at least twice a year. Designate an outside meeting point, such as your mailbox, where everyone can gather safely

 

9. CHECK THE AREA AROUND YOUR HEATER – Check the area around your heater to ensure it is a fair distance from curtains, furniture, clothing, bedding and other flammable material. A good rule of thumb is to always keep at least a metre clear around your heater. Make sure you turn off all heaters before going to bed

 

10. SMOKE ALARMS – If you have a multi-level home, a photo electric smoke alarm should be installed on each level. Be sure to install your photo electric smoke alarms in or near bedrooms or where people sleep. It is recommended that all smoke alarms are tested monthly. If you have battery-operated alarms, change the batteries at least once a year.

 

* Report on Government Services 2010, Volume 1

Source: NRMA