Hello Mi Neighbour | Fighting negative fire

Hello, mi neighbour! The next 500 words could save you millions plus! For your own safety, please process the message conveyed herein. Having read a Facebook post by a friend and listened to a subsequent news item on TVJ a few days ago, I was motivated to gather some facts on how to prevent and respond to negative fire. Coining a definition, 'negative fire' destroys things positive, while 'positive fire' destroys things negative. My only request is that you share the information below with your neighbours and ask them to do likewise.

This was the Facebook post: "it never rains but it pours. I came in from church to the sad news that my sister's house was burnt to the ground early this morning. She, along with others, have lost everything. I seek your prayers during this difficult time and whatever you can do to assist all those who are now being displaced, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your generosity."

Anyone who would like to assist this sister or any of the other fire victims may contact me at the numbers below.

Despite our best efforts, fires do occur. However, with alertness and adherence to the following tips, some fires can be prevented and damage can be minimised, should they occur.

PREVENTION TIPS

- Install and maintain smoke detectors.

- Never leave open flames (stoves, etc) unattended, and please note that built-up grease and residue on a stove may ignite while the stove is in use.

- Clean dryer and air conditioner vents regularly as built-up dust and lint may block them and cause a fire.

- Keep fabrics, such as curtains, rugs and tablecloths, away from electrical outlets.

- Address fire hazards: rooms overcrowded with furniture, faulty wiring, overloaded of electrical outlets, malfunctioning heat-generating appliances.

- Develop a fire-safety plan.

- Plan an escape route to be used in the event of a fire.

- Designate an area outside the building as the assembly point for building occupants.

- Regularly practise your escape plan.

- Update your escape plan whenever significant changes are made to the layout of the building.

- Keep all exits accessible.

- Keep a functioning fire extinguisher on hand.

- Ensure that everyone knows how to contact fire services.

These are very basic and must be riveted in the mind just in case!

- Use an extinguisher to put out the fire, if you can.

- Contact the fire department as quickly as possible.

- Alert everyone else in the building of the fire.

- Stay low to avoid inhaling smoke.

- Do not try to save possessions.

- Exit the building via your prearranged route.

- If you become trapped, close and block all doors between yourself and the fire, and call for help from a window or a telephone.

- Once outside, check that all the building's occupants have made it out. If there are people still inside, tell the fire-service workers and pray fervently without ceasing for their safety.

- Do not go back inside until it is declared safe to do so.

As you share this information with your neighbours, please remember to try to ease the burden of someone from list below.

THANKS TO NEIGHBOURS

1. Ms Thomas, St Andrew, for clothing.

2. Jacqueline, USA, for offering to assist Annmarie, St Catherine, with a book.

3. Antoinette, St Thomas, for offering clothing and textbooks to neighbours.

4. Tavane, St Catherine, for donating a stove to Lorna, stroke victim, St Thomas.

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP

- Sister Bailey, St Thomas, widow - badly in need of a stove.

- Pamela, St Andrew - needs mattress; sleeps on sponge, which causes pain.

- Brother Moses, St Catherine - asking for a fan. Mobility affected since accident.

To help, please call Silton Townsend @ 334-8165 or 884-3866, or deposit to acct # 351 044 276 NCB. Alternatively, send donations to HELLO NEIGHBOUR C/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10. Paypal/credit card email: zicron22@yahoo.com.

Contact email: helloneighbour@yahoo.com. Visit hellomineighbourja.blogspot.com. Mr Townsend exclusively manages the collections and distributions mentioned in this column and is neither an employee nor agent of The Gleaner.