The Ministry of Interior (MoI) emphasized the readiness of its various entities to welcome the Holy month of Ramadan. The Ministry called on community members to cooperate with the plans and programs carried out by police sectors during the Holy month of Ramadan, through which, the MoI seeks to achieve safety and security for the public, provide protection and peace of mind and preserve lives and properties.
Brigadier Mohammed Saleh Baddah, Acting Director of Public Relations Department at the MoI, stressed the importance of the Ramadan Awareness Initiative carried out by the Security Media Department, at the General Secretariat of the Office of H. H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, under the slogan "Your Safety,” to raising public awareness. He pointed out the important role of printed media, radio and TV to achieve the objectives of this initiative in establishing safety in our society.
Baddah advised community members to be cautious, abide by traffic laws and regulation, and always make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, civil defense vehicles and rescue vehicles. He pointed out to an increase in fire outbreaks during Ramadan, as families prepare several meals in a very short time, without paying attention to safety rules.
He stressed the need for a special attention to furnaces and ovens, by regularly cleaning them from food remains; changing the gas rubber hoses on a regular basis, because they’re easily damaged and suffer from little cracks, especially when exposed to the sun, leading to gas leaks and hence, outbreaks of fires. Baddah also warned the public that installing new gas cylinders must be done by well-experienced individuals, as any wrong installation may lead to gas leaks, fires and eventually cause the cylinder to explode. “Gas cylinders should be sealed off properly after every use and families should pay attention to ventilators by cleaning them with a piece of fabric, as dirty ventilators are considered a key factor in house fire,” he continued.
Brigadier Baddah urged housewives not to wear loose cloths while cooking, as they easily catch fire when handling food in cooking pots or when reaching out for things on the back of the stove or the upper parts of the furnace. He also called on housewives not to rush when cooking the Iftar.
“Other reasons for fire outbreaks during Ramadan include leaving censers unattended and burning for a long time, as they heat up very quickly, but need a long time to cool down. Censers should be kept away from any flammable materials,” Baddah added.
He also called on public to avoid placing traditional or electric censers inside closets and to keep them away from children, in order to avoid burns or electric shocks. “Make sure that your housemaids knows how to correctly handle censers and follow instructions to protect your family and house from fires,” he continued.
Brigadier Baddah also called on parents to take extra precautions and pay attention to their children, who are on summer vacation; stressing the need to keep them away from kitchens, unless supervised, and prevent them from going out on porches or elevated places to avoid falling accidents and keep them away from any other sources of risk.
Baddah called on the public to avoid any type of fireworks, as they are extremely dangerous and may cause fires. “We must be careful and comply with legal restrictions. We also need to keep these things out of children’s reach to protect their lives and preserve properties,” he said.