FIREWISE FOR EDUCATORS
A Model School- Should have a fence around the perimeter with a firebreak inside
- The lawn must be cut regularly
- The fire escape must be clearly marked
- People should be taught to be calm and orderly in the event of a fire
- A Fire Monitor should be designated, and should be given an arm band,
a special cap or a beret, and a whistle to blow in the event of a fire
- Children must get out of the way of fire fighters, and taken to safety as fast
as possible
- Children and staff should be taught basic first aid techniques in case someone's
life is at risk
- Children and staff should know what safety measures to take in the event
of a fire
How does your school rate? Have you got a management plan? What can you do to prevent a fire?
THE FIRE AWARENESS POSTER
This colourful poster makes an excellent teacher aid in conveying the message of fire awareness to learners. Through illustrations and text it conveys lessons about:
- Fire safety
- the impacts of fire
- causes of wildfires
- means to prevent veld fires - what to do and what not to do
- fire danger rating
- school fire safety rules
It is aimed at schools but can also be used in the broader community.
Physical appearance:
Size: 60 cm x 84 cm; Printed both sides; Full colour on one side, black and white on the other.
Languages:
English; Afrikaans; N.Sotho; Xhosa; Zulu; Tsonga
Cost:
R5 per poster for orders up to 500; R4 for orders over 500.
Available for download in PDF:
Go to the resources page for downloads.
The posters can also be purchased from Working on Fire (WoF) - contact: Sam Cloete, Tel: (021) 799 8716, or Email: Sam, webmaster@wofire.co.za < Back to top
For more resources for educators, see our resources page.
Preventing Veldfires
Most wild fires are started by people being careless. All fires start small! But when the weather is hot, dry and windy a small fire can quickly become a threat to life and property.Veldfires often start close to the home, and can cause injuries, death and loss of personal belongings. To stop these fires from happening:
DO
- Get rid of hot ash and coal from heating and cooking in a safe place where there is no plant material or rubbish that can catch alight.
- Cover an open fire with sand to smother it.
- Always work in a open, cleared area when working with power tools. Power tools like angle grinders,
welders and chainsaws make sparks which can ignite the surrounding veld.
- Make sure that there are no illegal electrical connections connected or near your home and that electrical appliances are correctly wired. Illegal and faulty electrical connections can get hot and start to burn.
- Keep the area around your home clear of material that can burn, such as firewood, kindling and garbage.
DON'T
- Burn rubbish on a hot and windy day, as the fire can easily spread and cause a wildfire.
- Play with matches!
- Throw away burning cigarette ends!
- Leave an open fire unattended.
If you see someone playing carelessly with fire, then tell them to stop. Wildfires can hurt people and animals.If you see someone starting a fire, report this to an adult, the police or community leader immediately. If you notice a veldfire burning, then report it to an adult, the police or community leader immediately.
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Surviving Veldfires
If you are in the veld and you see that a fire has started, MOVE AWAY from the fire immediately.
Never ignore the fire, even if it seems far away - it can quickly become large and engulf you!
The most dangerous situation to be in is when a veld fire is moving up a steep slope, and you are
above it with bush and grass between you and the fire.If you feel threatened and you don't think you can outrun the fire, or if you are surrounded, then find a 'Safe Zone'. A 'Safe Zone' can be an area that has already been burnt , or is completely clear of any fuel that can burn, such as a wide road or an old homestead. The clear area should be as large as possible. DON'T PANIC and run at the last minute. Remember that what will hurt you is the heat that the fire makes, and the lack of oxygen to breathe. Lie down on the ground, cover your head, breathe deeply before the smoke gets too close, and hold your breath when the fire passes over and around you. If you have blankets or extra clothing with you, try to cover any exposed parts of your body. It is always best NOT to get into this situation, and MOVING AWAY from the fire is always the best option. It is always best NOT to get into this situation, and MOVING AWAY from the fire is always the best option.
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 What does a fire need to burn?
Fires that are useful are those that we can control. Fires that become out of control are wasteful and destructive.The fire triangle shows us the three factors that are needed for a fire to burn. From that we can derive that we can also put out a fire by taking away one of these factors.
Fire Danger Rating
Make one of these with the children and display it in every classrooom.
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Firewise Board Game[8.5M]