As the cold front that swept through the Western Cape at the weekend is now hitting Gauteng with temperatures of 0° and below, Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Jacob Mamabolo expressed his concern for the safety of Gauteng residents during this high risk weather patterns.
MEC Mamabolo expressed particular concern for the most vulnerable in society who may be at higher risk in their attempts to keep warm during the forecasted extreme cold weather.
“Such extreme weather patterns often drive our people to do whatever it takes to warm themselves up, even to the point of compromising or completely neglecting their own safety. This is why as the department we are making a loud call to our people to use fire cautiously keeping in mind that all measures must be taken to keep fires from harming persons and properties”, MEC Mamabolo said.
Fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and body burns are some of the most common primary hazards associated with unusual cold weather. “Extra care must be taken when dealing with candles, heaters and homemade heating devices (imbaula) as they normally lead to fires, injury, damage and also death if left unattended. Equally people must be wary of illuminating and flammable liquids such as paraffin”, MEC Mamabolo said.
The MEC had the following precautionary hints for residents:
- Never use an open fire or charcoal- burning devices such as braziers (imbaula) inside home, garage basement particularly if not properly ventilated. This will lead to smog.
- Always locate heating devices away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
- Never leave heaters unattended in rooms. This may pose a fire hazard
- Never go to sleep with heaters and other heating devices left on.
- Do not place a space heater within 3 feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as drapes, furniture, or bedding. Never cover your space heater.
- Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
- Never leave children unattended near a heater or open fire.
- Make sure that the cord of an electric heater is not a tripping hazard and do not run the cord under carpets or rugs.
If there is a power failure:
- Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible.
- Never leave lit candles unattended.
“Research has proven that it takes only 1 minute and 40 seconds for a shack to be totally destroyed in case of a shack fire”, said MEC Mamabolo. “Unattended candles are one of the main causes cited for the alarming number of shack fires in the province“, he added.
MEC Mamabolo also made a stern warning against illegal electrical connections which in some cases causes electrical sparks because of the negligent and improper ways in which they are done, leading to fires or electrocutions. “These high risk practices potentially increase in colder weather conditions as we are experiencing, hence we making this important call”, MEC Mamabolo concluded.
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