Pupils learn about fires during holiday
ALEXANDRA- Fifteen thousand children are burnt by fires annually in the country and most high risk areas are shacks like in Setwetla, Alexandra, Marlboro and Kew.
A total of 15 000 children suffer burns from fires annually in the country and most incidents occur in shacks in areas such as Setswetla, Alexandra, Marlboro and Kew.
Some children in Alexandra at risk to these fires spent the first week of school holidays learning life skills which could save their lives from this danger.
The children who are in Grade 4 to 10 and members of the Rose Act Saturday school project for maths and English, spent the time at a fire safety workshop at Alrek sports complex conducted by fire safety agencies. Children on Fire, which rehabilitates burn victims, Joburg city council’s emergency management services and Burnshield, a company that makes products for treating burns were present.
Child burn victims of Children on Fire presented motivational talks at the workshop. They told of their experiences, society’s ignorance of fire safety measures and how they dealt with negative reaction of society to their physical appearances. They demonstrated how to extinguish fire on flammable clothing by rolling movements, how to secure lit candles, and advised attendees of the importance of washing hands before assisting burn victims to avoid passing on infections.
Abigael Ximba, caregiver at Children of Fire informed the children of the main causes of shack fires as tipped-over candles and paraffin stoves, children unsupervised next to fires, negligence from alcohol abuse and lack of education. She stated that a third of most fires were premeditated, and a form of revenge among family members and neighbours.
Ximba outlined the support to burn victims as including post-trauma care, counselling, occupational speech and therapy, surgery, tissue reconstruction and massage therapy. She also informed the children of a volunteer group, Umashesha which could help with burn-related incidents.
Details: Children of Fire; 011 726 6529 or www.childrenoffire.org za
