By Engr. Antonio M. Abuel, Jr.
Safety should always be our priority, and my foremost advocacy is to remind everyone about it. My column series launches with a topic very relevant for March, in observance of Fire Prevention Month. In 2021, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded a total of 3,315 fire incidents in National Capital Region (NCR), resulting to P1.3 billion of total estimated damage to property.
That is equivalent to about nine (9) fire incidents in a day in Metro Manila alone!
As part of its mandate to save lives and properties, the BFP conducts a series of activities every March as part of the Fire Prevention Month in its bid to raise awareness on the importance of fire prevention and safety. It is only through the awareness of each and every Filipino will we be able to significantly bring down, if not eliminate, fire-related incidents in the country.
This is also the reason why BFP’s theme for this year, “sa pag-iwas sa sunog, hindi ka nag-iisa”, embodies the value of taking part to create a community that is safe from fire.
According to the BFP, the top three causes of fires are electrical connections, lighted cigarettes, and open flames – which everyone of us are exposed to on a daily basis. Having full knowledge about fire hazards can not only spare us from damaged properties, but also prevent life-threatening situations.
Beyond keeping the lights on, Meralco – as the country’s largest electricity distributor – joins the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the BFP in keeping the fires out through their fire safety programs, which are even more crucial now that we’re starting to adapt to the new normal. The company teamed up with the BFP to discuss electrical safety at the agency’s Mobile Business One-Stop Shop Plus (MBOSS+) located in select malls in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
One important point we all need to know- we don’t need any grand act to keep our properties and the people around us safe. It is as simple as identifying hazards on things we usually oversee, like electrical connections.
Another simple advice to remember: Do to improvise on electrical fuses and have a licensed electrical practitioner to inspect and repair electrical wirings or fuse box in case of emergencies. It is also important to do an annual check of electrical wirings, since loose and overloaded electrical connection has been the number one cause of fires in the country since 2011.
Other practical safety practices include unplugging appliances when not in use and avoiding overload of extension cords (octopus connections). Practicing good housekeeping by avoiding storage of piles of paper and other scraps, and storing flammable liquids and chemical in a cool and dry place can also prevent fires.
It is also very important to avoid open flames – that means minimize use of candles. In 2017, candles started 107 fires in NCR alone. It’s best to use flashlights or solar lamps during power outages.
Observe proper disposal of cigarette butts by soaking them in water before throwing away, and do not smoke indoors or anywhere near flammable materials.
Building your own Fire Safety Plan for your own home is as important as observing safety measures. Discuss with your family an emergency evacuation plan for every room, and making sure doors and windows are not blocked. Practice the drill to ensure everyone in the house knows the plan and the meeting place outside the house. Fires can move and spread very fast. By creating and practicing an escape plan, you can save valuable time in the event of a fire knowing exactly how to act. It is always advisable to install a smoke or heat detector in our home.
Already caught in a fire-related situation? First aid will help address burns, which usually needs to cool under running water for at least 10 minutes. If the burn requires further medical care, loosely cover the burn with plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag. This helps prevent infection by keeping the area clean. It’s an ideal covering because it doesn’t stick to the burn and reduces pain by keeping air from the skin’s surface. Bring the injured person for urgent medical treatment.
I lead the Organizational Safety and Business Continuity function of one of the country’s biggest utility company, and I make it my advocacy not only to promote safety in the workplace but also embrace safety as my way of life. It became almost automatic for me to identify and address safety hazards and communicate this to whoever I am with at the moment I discovered one.
I find this opportunity to write for The Philippine Business and News very important for this cause. I believe that by continuously talking about the importance of safety and making more and more people aware, we can cultivate a culture that promotes it – and in doing so, turn it into results by building a safer and more resilient community.
For more fire safety tips, readers can visit: https://www.redcross.org.ph/press/news/philippine-red-cross-offers-first-aid-tips-for-burns
