Dubai: Some precautionary measures could be easily followed to prevent fatal explosions occurring from gas cylinders stored in residences, cautioned Civil Defence officials.
In wake of a recent explosion in a villa in Mirdif, which severely injured four teenagers, civil defence officials are urging the public to comply with safety measures to prevent catastrophic consequences.
A call was made to the operations room on Friday evening when a room in a villa at Mirdif was destroyed due to a leaking gas cylinder which was not stored in a proper place, said an official from the Criminal Investigations Department of Dubai Police.
Forensic reports stated that the explosion was caused by the spark from a match which was used by the teenagers to light the oven, he said.
Colonel Ahmad Al Sayegh, Assistant Director-General of Dubai Civil Defence for firefighting and rescue, said that the teenagers aged 14 to 16 were from Mauritius, South Africa, Ethiopia and Sudan. Two of them sustained severe injuries while the others sustained moderate injuries and were treated at Rashid Hospital.
"From the severity of the injuries I believe the girls were very close or in the same area as the explosion. There wasn't any fire and their injuries were a result of the explosion," he said.
Colonel Al Sayegh said there is a set of safety measures to follow to avoid accidents from gas cylinder.
According to him, well-ventilated cabinets made from non-inflammable substances must be provided to store gas cylinders. The cylinders should be kept away from direct sunlight and sources of ignition. The cylinders must be stored in cabinets in a vertical position all the time. No other items or substances may be stored in these cabinets.
"Safe operating procedures must be observed when moving, transport and storage of gas cylinders, and no lighters or matches should be used when checking for gas leakage," said Major Ali Al Mutawa, Director of the Operations Room, Dubai Civil Defence.
Although gas cylinder explosions are not common in Dubai due to continuous awareness campaigns, people need to be frequently educated on following safety procedures, Colonel Al Sayegh said.
List of dos and don't's
Fire and explosion safety tips include:
- Do not open or close the gas valve hard
- Do not use a hammer in the opening or closing of the cylinder valve
- Do not risk life by trying to transfer gas from one cylinder to another as it may lead to an explosion
- Do not use a cylinder for any other purpose like using them to gain access to a high place or to rest some of the material on them.
- Make sure that there is no flame or any other source of spark while replacing the gas cylinder.
- Avoid storing the gas cylinder inside the kitchen and store it in an outdoor cabinet.
- The safest place to store a gas cylinder is in a well-ventilated, tightly sealed cabinet, away from both direct sunlight and flammable or combustible materials.
- Never try to throw or roll the cylinder.
- Children are prohibited from playing with the gas cylinder even if the cylinder was empty, as well as matches and or cookers' valves.
- Ensure that both the gas cylinder and the gas cooker valves are closed prior to leaving the house.
- It is mandatory to keep an eye on the gas cooker while it is on as experience shows that a lot of house fires are due to lack of any person in the kitchen during cooking
- You should not ignore gas smell no matter how minor, as the presence of gas leakage may cause suffocation or may lead to fire threatening your life.
If you smell gas:
- Remove the nearby ignition sources, immediately close the main valve, and ventilate the area by opening all windows and doors.
- Do not try to turn on or off any electrical switches, do not turn on suction fans or ignite matches to avoid explosion and evacuate the house and call the Emergency if need arises.
