Guidelines and tips to prevent house fires this winter

In winter, the possibility of domestic fires increases. For this reason, in the podcast "Comillas te cuida", Jesús Muñoz, lecturer at the San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physical Therapy at Comillas, interviews Jose María Grande, firefighter at the Madrid City Council, with the aim of extracting a series of prevention and first aid tips. In this episode, Jose María also explains some of the factors and characteristics of fire in order to find out how it is produced and the best way to extinguish it.

These are some of the tips offered by the expert:

Fire prevention 

It is important to watch how you cook, in order to avoid accidents. For example, pan handles should always be turned inwards and you should always cook on the burners closest to the wall. It is also important to take care of the cleanliness of the extractor hood. As a general rule, the expert also advises taking special care with the proximity of electronic devices to water.

What to do in case of fire 

In case of fire, the interviewee advises evacuating if the place becomes uninhabitable and closing doors and windows to limit the spread of fire by reducing oxygen. In the presence of heavy smoke and no visibility, the recommendation is to take refuge in the room furthest away from the fire, close doors, block the cracks, for example by putting wet towels, and call the emergency services. If the fire is in a neighbour's house, it is advisable to stay at home, close doors, cover the cracks and call the emergency services.

Use of fire extinguishers

Jose María Grande explained the importance of maintaining a maximum distance of three metres and directing the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. The expert also talks in "Comillas te cuida" about the different types of extinguishers and the importance of using them with caution when extinguishing flammable liquids.

If you want to listen to the full interview, you can do so in this episode of "Comillas te cuida".