Quito firefighters give advice to avoid accidents at home and with pets during the Christmas and New Years holidays

At the doors of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the homes of many people are illuminated with colored lights, cribs and decorations are put on for the occasion. However, if adequate precautions are not taken with the facilities and the handling of pyrotechnics, accidents can occur, warns the Fire Department of Quito (Quito).

In order to raise awareness about risks and prevent inconveniences, the entity will develop the campaign ‘With good ideas, we save lives’ during the following weeks. This Friday an exhibition of various themes took place in the Quitumbe sector, south of the city.

There were demonstrations and even a structural fire was recreated, in what was simulated to be the living room of a house. With this, the firefighters showed the public the consequences of overloading electrical installations, among other aspects.

Esteban Cárdenas, commander of the CBQ. He pointed out that generally people use power strips to connect various appliances, but they are placed more than allowed and that saturates the network, which can cause a fire.

Candles and electrical installations

Pablo Correa, head of the CBQ fire investigation unit, recommends that, preferably, candles are not used inside homes.

But if you do, you have to place them one meter away from the manger or flammable products. They have to be on a non-combustible base, such as a wide plate, so that, in case of overturning, it can contain the candle and the wax. Small children and pets should not approach.

Electrical installations do not have to be overloaded, Correa reiterated. Devices that require power must be properly distributed in the outlets, in order to avoid short circuits.

If the house is to be left alone, all the Christmas lights should be turned off, so that the materials do not overheat.

In addition, it is recommended to have a smoke detector, which is easy to install, says the head of the investigation unit. When the device detects smoke, it emits a very loud high-pitched sound. A good supplement is to have a 10 pound dry chemical extinguisher.

When fire extinguishers are not available, the flames, if they are not very large, can be put out using a large soaked blanket or towel; First you have to disconnect all electrical equipment, so that the water does not come into contact.

Pyrotechnics

Fireworks are explosive materials; therefore, they are dangerous. They contain hot pyrotechnics, have gunpowder, produce a lot of smoke and noise, warned Edwin Parra, in charge of hazardous materials.

The improper handling of these devices can cause amputations, lacerations, damage to the eyes and even cause death. It’s better not to use pyrotechnics, Parra recommended.

If an emergency occurs, people should contact 911. The Fire Department technician indicated that it is important to stay away from the scene and cover the wounds with wet blankets until help from rescuers arrives.

Jorge Almagro, a CBQ paramedic, added that if a hemorrhage occurs, press directly on the wound with towels, as clean as possible. In facial injuries it is recommended not to put anything in the mouth, remove any object that could cause more damage and put the person on their side.

How to protect dogs from the noise of fireworks?

David Durango, head of the Canine Unit, explained that behavior problems in dogs occur when the animal, at an early age, did not have much socialization with humans. Overprotective pets cause such behavior when they reach old age, he said.

While they are puppies, it is best that they hang out with people, do not carry them in your arms or pamper them, since that makes them feel insecure.

Dogs should not be taken where there are explosives detonations, because they will change their behavior, they can become aggressive, try to hurt themselves, run away and cause more problems.

When pyrotechnics explode, the owner has to give their pet a sense of security. Don’t force it.

Durango suggested that if the animal is known to have this type of behavior, it can be given drops of valerian or bach flowers, to help it relax. The vet can also be consulted for a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication.

Another way to calm the dog is to put a bandage on it, using the technique called Tellington. It reduces stress and gives a sense of security, as if someone is hugging you. It can be done using gauze, a T-shirt or a scarf, the Canine Unit officer described. (I)