March is Fire Prevention Month

Post date: Apr 1, 2011 7:46:59 AM

By: Rubila Nuñez, BES Teacher

March is Fire Prevention Month. It is a disaster that has affected the lives of many Filipinos since incidence of fire is high especially in dense urban areas and it is usually caused by man’s carelessness.

Fire Prevention Month reminds us all that though the discovery of fire was one of man’s earliest technological discoveries, it has since claimed countless lives, destroyed properties and dilapidated spirits.

Just recently the store near the bus stations and common terminal along Lerma Street in Poblacion was burned down because of faulty wiring and since it occurred in wee hours of dawn, nothing was saved. It happened so quickly and swiftly. Victims felt devastated because of the lost property.

Schools are not exempted in this disaster that’s why the school administrators and teachers also prepared the pupils for this disaster. They teach children how to get out of a burning building quickly and call for help from another location; show them how to get low and go below the smoke to get out of the burning place and stay out in a safe place; demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground, cover their face and roll if clothes catch fire.

These prevention tips from Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are emphasized in their Science classes to give them full awareness just in case fire occurs:

-Put phone numbers of the nearest fire department near the phone.

-Eliminate fire hazards through the following: dispose waste paper, rubbish and other flammable materials regularly.

-Keep matches and other acids away from the pupils

-Oil or gas lamps and candles should be placed away from curtains. Do not light them near windows, fans. Put out the flame before going out of the room if there’s any.

-Do not keep flammable materials like gasoline, alcohol and paint inside the room.

-Regularly check your electrical installations, and have all frayed wirings and electrical fixtures changed or repaired by a licensed electrician.

-Do not overload electrical circuits by putting additional lights and appliances.

-Blown fuses should not be replaced with coins, wires or any other metal.

-Keep a first-aid kit handy.