Saudi Gazette The Civil Defense Department in Riyadh organized a celebratory event at King Fahd Cultural Center last week, to honor women who had completed their training in a home safety program. The event was graced by Princess Hessa Al-Shaalan, wife of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Princess Sara Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The event which coincides with the World Civil Defence Day was originated in 1990 to raise public awareness on prevention and self-protection measures in case of accidents or disasters; and to pay tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for fight against disasters. Princess Sara praised the defense department for implementing safety training programs and workshops for homemakers, mothers, students, and teachers. She hopes that these essential programs are initiated in all other areas of the nation. “Despite some improvements, many housewives are not aware of safety and fire preventive measures. I would like to see more programs that train and educate both, mothers and domestic help in the house on what to do in case of emergencies,” she said. In his address to the audience and participants at the event, director general of Civil Defense, Lt. Gen. Saad Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, said, “Accidents at home account for 50 percent of all accidents that occur in the world on an average. However, in the Kingdom 65 percent of the accidents take place at homes. What is even more tragic and painful is the fact that 70 percent of the fatalities that result from home accidents strike children under the age of ten years. “That is where the importance of educating women on safety practices comes into play. The women in the country are active participants in the protection of our children. The Civil Defense concentrates its efforts in teaching women how to avoid hazards at home and/or workplace.” He also said that the Civil Defense in Riyadh trained 3,000 female teachers in fire safety training programs last year. In addition, around 10,000 domestic helpers too received fire safety awareness lectures immediately upon their arrival on Riyadh airport. Following safety tips can help prevent fires at home: n Fit a smoke alarm and test it regularly; it may be the simplest step you can take to cut the risk of casualties. n Take care when cooking. Statistics from the Civil Defense show that more than half of accidental fires at home start in the kitchen. Take extra care when cooking with hot oil and never leave children alone in the kitchen if the stove or oven is on. n Plan an escape route, teach it to your children, and rehearse it regularly. Make sure everyone in the family knows the plan. If there is a fire in your home do not try to put it out yourself, call 998 and get out of the house. n Do not overload electric sockets. Try to keep to one plug per socket — too many electrical appliances plugged into one socket can overload it, which can lead to overheating and eventually fire. Electrical appliances, plugs and cables that are old or poorly wired can also pose as serious threats. n Always dispose cigarettes properly as most fires break due to not stubbing it correctly. n Use candles carefully and make sure they are secured so they will not topple over. Keep them away from curtains, fabrics, and paper as they tend to catch fire the fastest. Always blow them when you are leaving the room or going to bed. __
