Caption: NFA firefighter conducting the fire safety awareness to the children who visited the Suva Fire Station.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) wishes to acknowledge and thank the parents and guardians for their support in ensuring the safety of children from the devastating impact of fires.
“Last year, we had seven children fire deaths which is very much regretted. However, so far in 2013, there has been no children fire deaths and we would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to all the parents and guardians in Fiji for their support and assistance in ensuring the fire safety of their children,” NFA CEO John O’Connor said.
“The NFA is again reminding parents to continue to take fire safety seriously and continue to talk to their children about the importance of fire safety.
“We cannot be complacent in this regard and must continue to take extra care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children,” Mr O’Connor said.
These fire safety tips are important in ensuring the fire safety of our children:
- Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short periods of time.
- Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet out of the reach of children.
- Encourage your children to tell you when they find matches and lighters.
- Develop a home fire escape or evacuation plan and practice it with your children.
- Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching your children that fire is a tool and not a toy.
- Teach the children of the nature of fires. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY.
- Teach children to get out quickly in case of a fire and call for help.
- Teach children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke to get quickly out of the house and stay out in case of fire.
- Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes are on fire.
- Teach children not to play and make calls to the emergency numbers 911 and 910.
- Teach children to call 911 and 910 ONLY in case of a fire.
- Never leave children unattended near burning stoves or burning candles, even for a short time.
- Children should cook only under supervision of an adult.
- Children should never play with electric cords or sockets. They should seek adults for assistance.
- Teach children to turn off lights, TV’s and other electrical equipment when they have finished using them.
The NFA CEO is also urging parents and members of the community to contact the NFA Fire Station near them and organize sessions for NFA to conduct fire safety demonstration to the children and the whole family during this school holidays.
“NFA officers have been visiting communities and homes around the country to create awareness on fire safety and we are looking forward to visiting other communities,” Mr O’Connor added.
NFA