DaLight bares fire safety tips

It is once again the season of graduations and last school days. It is that time of the year when seniors will be marching down and young ones will be moving up. But alas, it is also the month which reminds us that aside from the excited graduates’ hearts, homes can also catch fire.
This fire prevention month, Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Company Inc. would like to rekindle our awareness in fire and electrical safety protocols.
Follow directions. Instructions on how to operate your appliances and electronic devices are not mere pieces of paper. These rules can keep your home and your family safe from possible danger caused by improper usage. Orienting the household about how to use and how not to abuse your appliances is a must.
Install safety equipment. Invest in fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinklers especially if you often leave your home unattended. Or, simply keep flammable materials away from heat or fire generating devices at home. A sample of this rule is not to have piles of papers near stoves and ovens.
Remember to unplug. A big number of home fires result from failing to turn off and unplug running devices. Simply turn off and detach your appliances once done using each. If you are attempting to multitask cooking with another chore, either stay in one room to keep your eyes open or simply put out your cooking flame before leaving the room.
Extend within limits. Extension cords are not for permanent usage. If the need for a power supply in a certain part of your house is frequent and deemed necessary, have a registered electrician install a direct wiring for safety. Extension wires also have various capacities. Plugging in too many devices will only leave you with either a burnt extension wire or your entire house in ashes and smoke.
With the advancement of technology, we may have come to believe that our devices are too smart to burn the house down. We should not, however, forget that we control these devices. Old or new, they can cause accidents. And the best safety measure to avoid them is to simply turn off, and unplug. Be educated and graduate from being complacent about fire hazards by simply keeping F.I.R.E. in mind.