THREE STEPS TO STAYING SAFE THIS WINTER

Fair Trading Minister Margaret Keech and Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell are urging all Queenslanders to follow three simple steps to stay safe this winter.

Mrs Keech and Mr Purcell said the risk of house fires increased during the winter months with 95 per cent of all fire related deaths occurring between May and September.

They reminded Queenslanders that traditional winter warmers like old-fashioned bar heaters and cuddly nightclothes were potential killers.

“Ditch your old style bar heaters by cutting off the cord and safely disposing of it, dress your kids in low fire danger clothes and install working smoke alarms,” said Mrs Keech.

Mrs Keech and Mr Purcell showed just how quickly clothing could go up in flames after coming into contact with unsafe electric bar heaters.

“The demonstration shows just how quickly and easily certain winter clothing fabrics can ignite when in contact with the exposed glowing bars of a bar heater,” Mrs Keech said.

“If this is what happens to fabric, imagine the horrendous burns it could cause to little fingers and hands.

“The most severe burns are associated with bar heaters as the glowing radiant bars cause deep tissue burns after as little as one second of body contact.”

Mr Purcell encouraged all Queensland parents and carers to throw out their older style bar heaters and do a winter wardrobe check before allowing them to warm themselves up by the heater or fireplace.

“Everyone should visit the Safer Queensland website to get a copy of the home safety checklist – now is a good time to do a safety audit of your home.

“Checking children’s nightwear is the second step to winter safety. Certain clothing styles and fabric types are more flammable and dangerous than others and it is very important parents know which fabrics are safer. “

Australia has mandatory labelling standards for children’s nightwear which clothing manufacturers and retailers must comply with (Australian/New Zealand AS/NZS 1249:1999 - Children's Nightwear and Limited Daywear Having Reduced Fire Hazard).

Mrs Keech said fire warning labels on children’s nightwear warned parents and caregivers about the levels of fire dangers for different fabrics.

“A low fire danger does not mean that an item of clothing won’t burn. It means that because of its style or fabric type the flame will spread at a slower rate.

“However, I want parents and caregivers to remember that fire warning labels do not replace the need for close adult supervision of children, especially around heaters and open flames,” she said.

As of July 1 this year, legislation will be introduced to ensure all Queensland homes have smoke alarms.

“Any firefighter who’s sifted through the remains of a burnt dwelling will tell you how important these new laws are,” Mr Purcell said.

“In Queensland, 78% of all home fire deaths occur in houses without fire alarms, so this legislation is crucial to reducing the casualty rate in this state.

For more information on smoke alarms, visit www.fire.qld.gov.au/communitysafety

For more information on product safety and labelling standards for children’s clothing, contact the Office of Fair Trading by visiting www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.

To get a copy of the home safety checklist visit the Safer Queensland website at www.safer.qld.gov.au.

Media Contacts:

Minister Purcell’s Office: Brendan Connell 3247 8992 / 0437837976

Minister Keech’s Office: Joanne Gibbons 3224 2007 / 0421 611 989

Office of Fair Trading: Carmen Uzarevic 3119 0334