Iman Al-Dabbasi, pharmacist Information and Health Awareness Center The holy month of Ramadan is linked to well known social traditions, as cooking of Ramadan dishes increases, as do visits and gatherings in homes. Cooking is considered to be one of the main reasons for the breakout of fires in homes during Ramadan due to the rise in temperatures while operating gas cookers to prepare food. Apart from this, electrical appliances that are necessary in the kitchen are available. As a woman spends a lot of time in the kitchen preparing break fast (Iftar), it is natural that she will be exposed to risks especially with the presence of children with her in the kitchen, as her attention is divided. For this reason, housewives have to follow safety guidelines to prevent the occurrence of hazards and they are: 1. Not to leave children alone in the kitchen so as to ensure that they do not tamper with the electrical appliances, cookers, matchsticks and lighters. All these should be kept out of their reach. 2. Keep gas cylinders in a suitable place. 3. Use pressure cookers correctly. 4. Do not neglect any defect whether in the gas cooker or in electrical appliances. 5. A housewife has to check for gas leakages and she should not neglect them. 6. Exhaust fans should not be operated for long periods, as this might lead to short circuits causing a fire in the house. 7. The members of the family should learn first aid and they should teach their children, housemaids and other domestic workers. How to deal with a frying pan that has caught fire 1. Place the cover on the frying pan cautiously. 2. Shut the gas cooker knob. 3. Leave the cover on the frying pan until it cools down. 4. Do not try to lift the cover so as to see what is going on in the frying pan because lifting the cover a little will allow oxygen from the air to enter and it will burst into flames once again. 5. Do not hold a frying pan that has burst into flames and place it under a water tap to stop the flames because this leads to the scattering of drops of oil that are aflame onto your body and all over the kitchen. 6. If the flames extend around the frying the pan, use a dry towel or a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. 7. If a fire breaks out inside an oven, shut the knob and keep the oven door closed until the fire is extinguished by cutting off oxygen supply from outside. 8. Do not try to extinguish oil or fat fires with water because this will increase the area of the fire due to the scattering of oil or fat. Electric short circuit cause of fires in homes. How can we prevent its occurrence? 1. Carry out periodic maintenance of the electricity wiring inside and outside the house and let an electrician replace the worn out and damaged wires. 2. Do not pass the wires and electricity extensions in the home over the moquette, carpets or close to sources of heat so as to avoid the occurrence of any sparks or short circuits as a result of damage to the wires or their bending, hence causing a fire. 3. Keep electric appliances away from sources of water and take care of these appliances. 4. Avoid overload on electrical sockets and replace bad and exposed wires immediately. What to do when we discover a gas leak? 1. If you smell gas do not try to touch the electricity switches by pressing them on or off. Do not try to switch on the exhaust fans or use matchsticks so as to prevent the occurrence of an explosion. 2. Evacuate everyone from the place immediately. 3. Shut off the gas supply immediately. 4. Shut off the nearby sources of fire. 5. Ventilate the place by opening windows and doors. 6. Let specialists repair the source of gas leakage. Types of burns First degree burns: This are the least serious burns, as the outer layer of the skin only is burnt. The skin appears red with swelling and the afflicted person might feel pain. Second degree burns: This affects the first and second layer of the skin. The skin appears red with the existence of swelling and blisters. There is severe pain. Third degree burns: This is the most serious of all burns, as it affects all the layers of the skin and might reach the fat layers, muscles and bones. This causes permanent damage to the tissues. The burns become black or white and dry.
First aid in cases of burns First aid for first and second degree burns 1. Cool the burnt part with cold water for 10–15 minutes or until the pain subsides. 2. Cover the burnt part by placing a dry, sterilized dressing on it. 3. Give the affected person a painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen. 4. It is not advisable to place blocks of ice on the burnt part so that the tissues are not damaged further. 5. Take the injured person to the nearest medical center immediately if the burnt part is large.
First aid for third degree burns 1. Avoid removing by force clothes that have got stuck with the burnt part. 2. If the burnt part is big in area avoid placing it in cold water as this will lead to a drop in body temperature, blood pressure and blood circulation system. 3. Make sure that the vital signs are existent, like breathing, coughing or movement. If there is no breathing then heart-lung resuscitation should begin. 4. The burnt part should be lifted to the level of the heart if possible. 5. Cover the burnt part with a piece of cloth or a clean, moist towel.
