A total of 4,065 fire outbreaks have been recorded from January to June 2022 resulting in 35 deaths and207 injuries throughout the country.
Similarly more than 500 homes are struck by fire in Ghana every year, this was recorded in a book, titled “Fire and Life Safety Guidelines for Children, a Handbook for Teachers and Parents”, authored by a Fire Protection Engineering Consultant, Mr Emmanuel Ebo Budu-Mensah and launched on Thursday in Accra.
The 112 page-book, highlighted the basic fire safety guidelines for children to help educate and improve their knowledge on fire safety whenever they came in contact with fire.
Mr Budu-Mensah, the author’s maiden book proved the importance in educating children on how to prevent fires as well as reducing the risks for fire in homes to make a lifesaving difference.
During the event, the author said parents played a significant part by helping young children understand the dangers of fire and what to do if there was a fire outbreak.
“The messages in the book is very simple and easy to teach the children, so every home and institution should have a copy of the books since our environment is no more save for habitation due to some unsuitable activities,” he stated.
He stated that, his inspiration was drawn from a little girl who was able to escape a fire outbreak with her family unhurt after a he gave a lecture in the little girl’s school on how to escape fire outbreaks.
Launching the book, the Dean Marine Engineering, Regional Maritime University (RMU), Dr York Abaidoo, said the 14 chaptered book was timely and perfect for all including children, to learn and be abreast with the guidelines on fire safety.
The Greater Accra Regional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) Alhaji Nuhu Gibril, said it was time for individuals to have attitudinal change in order to reduce fire outbreaks.
“Now countries are moving from firefighting to fire prevention so we must all get involved in this initiative, the book is very comprehensive so I urge everyone to have a copy,” he advised.
BY ANITA ANKRAH