PRESS RELEASE.
STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING KEROSENE EXPLOSION.
In the past 1 week, we have been inundated with reports of KEROSENE EXPLOSION resulting in severe burns being sustained by those affected.
The reports of the explosions keep increasing every day with about 9 cases reported in Ikot-Ekpene alone. We have also received similar reports from Eket Local Government Area.
These incidences, which are totally avoidable are really unfortunate to say the least.
We therefore urge the relevant authorities to get to the root cause of these explosions which are likely due to adulterated kerosene before it engulfs all of us.
While awaiting the reports of the investigations by the relevant authorities on the root cause of these explosions, we urge our people to adopt the following strategies to avoid the KEROSENE EXPLOSION and the attendant unpalatable complications.
1. Never top up kerosene when your lantern or stove is still on.
2. Avoid looking into the stove or lantern when lighting it.
3. Keep kerosene stoves clean. When using kerosene stoves, we often leave grease, oil or debris on the area around the burners.We should clean these to help prevent fires and those grease and oil are sometimes what cause the fire to break.
4. Keep flammable Objects away. Kerosene heaters produce fire which may spread to any flammable objects nearby. Flammable objects can catch fire easily, hence increasing the chances of them catching fire. Hence, by keeping flammable objects away, the fire from kerosene lamps would not spread easily.
5. Shut off the supply of whatever is burning.Smother the flames with rugs, sand ,earth or other heavy materials.
6. For small kitchen fires, cover the burning pan with a lid or use table salt or baking soda for smothering.
7. Use a fire extinguisher if you have one.
Prevention is better than cure.
I wish all the injured a very quick recovery.
Dr Aniekeme Uwah JP
Chairman,
Nigerian Medical Association(NMA),
Akwa Ibom State branch.
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