The beginning of the autumn-winter period for the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) employees is always associated with raids and inspections of the private sector.
The beginning of the autumn-winter period for the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) employees is always associated with raids and inspections of the private sector. Today, even in small settlements, intensive gasification has been carried out in recent years. However, even after gaining access to blue fuel, homeowners are in no hurry to dismantle time-tested stoves. After all, as soon as it gets cold outside, the heating season begins in the villages. And the colder it is outside, the more intensively the stoves are heated. Fires occur due to violation of fire safety rules when using stoves, up to round-the-clock operation. Naturally, many stoves cannot withstand such "heat" and literally become murder weapons. According to statistics, every fifth fire is caused by stove heating. Examples of fires that occurred at the beginning of last year's heating season confirm this.
But citizens do not only warm themselves with stove heating during the winter cold. An equally common cause of fires during this period is the use of electric heaters, especially "homemade" ones. Also, according to MES reports, violations of the operation of electrical appliances, faulty wiring, televisions in "standby mode," and chargers left connected are often causes of fires.
To prevent electrical equipment from igniting due to voltage surges and fluctuations, use surge protectors. Make sure that plugs and sockets do not heat up, as this is the first sign of a malfunction or network overload, which can consequently lead to a short circuit. Ensure that wires from electrical appliances are not under carpets, as they can fray. Always disconnect the TV from the mains, as even in standby mode, its main components are under voltage. Do not touch electrical appliances with wet hands and do not keep electrical appliances switched on in the bathroom, as conductive water vapor forms here. Under no circumstances use homemade extension cords, electric heaters, and power tools. One of the main safety "commandments" is not to leave electrical appliances switched on unattended. Although, there is a small caveat here: everything except the refrigerator. But, as practice shows, sometimes even it fails.
Regarding electric heaters, caution is advised even with technically sound units. It is dangerous to leave them on overnight, use them for drying clothes, place them near furniture or curtains, or set them on a combustible surface without a stand. Furthermore, a heater is a high-power appliance, so its use should take into account the overall load on the electrical network. It is not advisable to switch it on simultaneously with a microwave, television, washing machine, or computer.
Ease of use and convenience are the main advantages of modern household appliances. However, they typically function reliably only as long as all recommendations in the accompanying instruction manual are followed. Otherwise, unpleasant surprises may await you. To prevent emergencies, remember that the most reliable protection is vigilance!
A nationwide campaign "For Safety Together" is underway in the Vitebsk region. Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) employees are visiting large families, single individuals, disabled persons, and the elderly. This is done to enhance public safety awareness and assess the readiness of territories for the autumn-winter, and therefore fire-hazardous, season.
However, special attention during this period is paid to individuals leading an anti-social lifestyle. It is difficult to persuade such people to stop drinking, and the measures the MES can apply are primarily administrative. These include preventive conversations, issuing fines or orders, and sending letters to the police... But regardless of the measures taken, the names of those who have long been indifferent to their own lives often appear in MES reports.
The use of gas stoves and cylinders may seem commonplace and familiar to us, yet under certain conditions, dangerous situations can still arise when working with seemingly well-known equipment. Statistical data remains disheartening: year after year, the majority of accidents occur in apartments and residential buildings, most often due to the fault of the owners themselves. Unfortunately, people only begin to follow the principle of "a well-arranged life is good, but a safe one is even better" after making mistakes.
Indeed, most fires occur in rural areas. However, even though urban residents have central heating and do not use stoves, and electric heaters are used less frequently, fires still happen in city apartments, on balconies, and in stairwells. Regarding so-called common areas, personal belongings placed in shared corridors and stairwells, such as wooden boxes, chests of drawers, wardrobes, and sofas, are often the cause of many tragedies. All of this not only hinders evacuation but is also flammable.
Of course, there are several ways to prevent such situations: residents should maintain order, and organizations responsible for these matters should monitor and penalize those who do not comply with fire safety regulations. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.
We live in a time when the flow of information is so immense that it is sometimes difficult to comprehend. We calmly accept a vast number of events, remaining completely indifferent. However, when tragedies involving children occur, it is impossible to remain uninvolved. Regardless of what is said about the impossibility of foreseeing everything, no one is immune to accidents. The price of an accident, however, is too high – a child's life. We want to ask every parent: have you done everything possible to minimize such an accident in your life? Parents themselves often create situations with irreparable consequences.
According to statistics, the most common cause of fires is children playing with dangerous items (matches, lighters). Typically, children aged 5-6 become victims of fire. This is the most risky age when children do not understand the consequences of their actions. Most often, after setting something on fire, they try to hide under a bed, in a wardrobe, or under a table, where they are very difficult to find. It is always very difficult to provide such examples. We cannot share the parents' pain, we cannot help in any way, and we have no moral right to judge... We can only state the facts. Let the examples provided serve as a lesson, a reminder, and an experience for all parents without exception. No matter how busy you are, where you are rushing to, or what tasks you face, remember that you, parents, are responsible for your children. Do not leave children unattended.