With the drop in temperatures and the arrival of winter, families in Saudi Arabia increasingly rely on various heating methods, most notably kerosene heaters , which remain a popular choice for many homes. In this context, the General Directorate of Civil Defense its warnings and guidelines for citizens and residents to ensure a warm and safe winter, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to safety procedures to avoid unfortunate household accidents that may result from misuse.
The four safety procedures for using a kerosene heater
The General Directorate of Civil Defense emphasized four basic preventive measures that must be followed when dealing with a kerosene heater , which are:
- Filling outside the house: It is necessary to fill the heater with fuel outdoors, outside the house, in order to avoid inhaling harmful fumes or a sudden ignition as a result of fuel spillage in enclosed spaces.
- Protecting children: Children should be kept away from the heater and not tampered with, as the hot surfaces pose a direct risk of burns, in addition to the risk of the heater falling over, which could cause fires.
- Turn off the heater when leaving and going to sleep: Make sure to turn off the heater completely when leaving the house or before going to sleep, to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or a fire breaking out while unattended.
- Safe location: Place the heater in a safe and stable location, away from walkways to avoid collisions, and away from furniture and flammable materials such as curtains and upholstery.
The dangers of traditional heating and the importance of preventative awareness
These warnings come as part of ongoing efforts by relevant authorities in the Kingdom to reduce winter accidents. It is scientifically established that using combustion-based heating appliances (such as kerosene and coal) in enclosed spaces without proper ventilation can lead to the accumulation of carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas known as the “silent killer,” which causes suffocation and death without the victim being aware of it. Therefore, following the Civil Defense guidelines is not just a passing suggestion, but an absolute necessity to preserve lives and property.
Emergency and contact numbers in the Kingdom
The directorate urged everyone to follow the safety guidelines that are published regularly through official media outlets and social media platforms. In the event of any emergency, God forbid, the directorate stressed the importance of immediately contacting the following numbers for assistance:
- Number (911) : For residents of Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, and the Eastern Province.
- Number (998) : For residents of the rest of the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
