With South Australians feeling the effects of winter’s shorter days and cold temperatures, the State Government is urging the community to stay safe by ensuring home heating products are in good working order.
Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels said that over the past five years, Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and SA Country Fire Service (CFS) firefighters had battled more than 350 home-heating fires that left a collective $11.6m damage bill across the State.
“An estimated 64 people die across Australia in residential fires each year, and a further 2000 suffer burns,” Ms Michaels said.
“In many cases these homes did not have working smoke alarms or the fires were sparked when faulty appliances ignited,” she said.
She said popular ‘winter warmers’ included electric blankets, heaters, hot water bottles, wheat/heat packs and fireplaces.
“Householders and consumers are warned to check appliances, such as heaters and electric blankets that may not have been used since last winter,” she said.
“Ensuring appliances are working efficiently can also help reduce power bills.”
The Minister said to get safely through the winter months and to use ‘winter warmers’ safely, people were urged to:
* Ensure smoke alarm batteries had been replaced within the past 12 months;
* Never leave open flames unsupervised;
* Avoid falling asleep with electric blankets turned on and ensure cords were not frayed or worn out before use;
* Use a fitted cover or wrap hot water bottles before use and avoid direct contact with skin;
* Dispose of heat/wheat packs that begin to look or smell burnt;
* Place a mesh screen in front of fireplaces to prevent sparks falling out;
* Keep children away from open flames and heaters, and be aware that children’s pyjamas can be highly flammable; and
* Store all hazardous chemicals, lighters and matches out of reach of children.
The MFS’s four-page Home fire safety fact sheet can be accessed at this PS News link and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Well winter safety tips at this link.
